title: Small, superficial esophageal carcinoma treated with high-dose-rate intracavitary irradiation only.
abstract: Six patients with small, superficial carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with 18-24 Gy of high-dose-rate intracavitary irradiation only. All patients were examined with an endoscope within 1 month after therapy, and the tumor in all six had disappeared. However, erosion induced by high-dose-rate intracavitary irradiation was seen in five of the patients. Five of the patients have experienced no local recurrence; endoscopic biopsy showed local recurrence in the remaining patient 7 months after radiation therapy. All patients have survived 6-16 months. Esophageal ulceration induced by intracavitary irradiation occurred in three of the six patients; however, the ulcers have been healing with conservative treatment. This new method of using only high-dose-rate intracavitary irradiation appears to be effective in the patient with small, superficial esophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hishikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurisu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamikonya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage