Superficial esophageal cancer: multicenter analysis of results of definitive radiation therapy in Japan.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of definitive radiation therapy in patients with superficial esophageal cancer.


METHODS
Method of irradiation, local control rate, survival rate, and complications were assessed in 105 patients (89 men, 16 women; age range, 50-88 years) with superficial esophageal cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy at 15 hospitals in 1981-1990.


RESULTS
All lesions were confirmed to be squamous cell carcinoma. The overall 5-year survival rate was 38.7%; the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 71.0%. The 2-year local control rate was 83.0%. Late complications occurred in 16 patients. The prevalence of complications was relatively high in the group treated with intraluminal radiation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Local control and survival rates in patients treated with radiation therapy were excellent, especially in the group treated with external and intraluminal radiation therapy; however, the optimal dose and optimal combination of external and intraluminal radiation therapy should be further assessed.
Okawa
T
T
Department of Radiology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Tanaka
M
M
Kita-Okawa
M
M
Nishio
M
M
Kikuchi
Y
Y
Shirato
H
H
Yamada
S
S
Asakawa
H
H
Niibe
H
H
Dokiya
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate