title: Radiation-induced injury of the esophagus.
abstract: Forty patients with functional or morphologic esophageal abnormalities following radiotherapy were identified. Abnormalities included abnormal motility with and without mucosal edema, stricture, ulceration and pseudodiverticulum, and fistula. Abnormal motility occurred 4 to 12 weeks following radiotherapy alone and as early as 1 week after therapy when concomitant chemotherapy had been given. Strictures developed 4 to 8 months following completion of radiotherapy. Ulceration, pseudodiverticulum, and fistula formation did not develop in a uniform time frame. Radiation-induced esophageal injury is more frequent when radiotherapy and chemotherapy are combined than it is with radiotherapy alone.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography