title: [Combination external and internal radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma: a new prospect].
abstract: Thirty-five patients with an inoperable or non-resectable oesophageal carcinoma were treated with external radiotherapy to a maximum dose of 60 Gy followed by a booster irradiation by means of intraluminal brachytherapy at a low dose rate (40-112 cGy/h). For this extra irradiation, which lasted 20-36 h, a catheter with a thickness of 3 mm was introduced through the nose. This treatment could be carried out without sedation. The total radiation dose after the combination therapy amounted to 65-75 Gy. Of the 35 patients, 17 were pretreated with dilatation or laser therapy. The palliative effect after the external and internal irradiation was very good; only one patient still had minor dysphagia 6 weeks after the treatment. Transient irradiation oesophagitis occurred in 16 patients. In three patients, a secondary benign stenosis developed. The median duration of survival was 11 months, the 2-year survival rate was 10%. A comparison of these results with a historical control group treated only with external irradiation shows that the duration of survival of these patients appears to be increased during the first 45 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Radiotherapie, Academisch Ziekenhuis, Leiden.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Caspers
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zwinderman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Griffioen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Welvaart
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Leer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes
vernacular_title: Combinatie van uit- en inwendige radiotherapie voor het oesofaguscarcinoom: een nieuw perspectief.