[Evaluation of pre-operative irradiation therapy for carcinoma of the esophagus].
Prognosis of 43 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with pre-operative irradiation and that of 50 patients by surgical excision alone were compared by five year survival rate. The pre-operative radiation treatment comprised a daily doses of 2 Gy. given for consecutive days, up to total dosage of 40 Gy. (T.D.F.66). The operative excision was done two weeks after the the completion of the radio-therapy. In early cases (st. I, II), five year survival rate of the pre-operative irradiation group was 59.8% and 74.2% for surgical treatment alone group. In advanced cases (st. III, IV), the radiation group and surgical treatment alone group showed 21.8% and 15.1% respectively. Among advanced cases, the result in relation to the location of tumor in the esophagus was studied. In the cases which the tumor was located at the upper and middle intra-thoracic esophagus, five year survival rate in pre-operative radiation group was 21.4% versus no survivor in surgical excision alone. In contrast, five year survival rate was better by surgical treatment alone among these advanced cases located at the lower esophagus. The pre-operative irradiation treatment is indicated for esophageal cancer which is advanced and located in the upper and middle intra-thoracic esophagus.
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis