title: [Radiation therapy of carcinoma of the esophagus in the aged--its results and problems].
abstract: Clinical records of 128 non-selected patients with esophageal cancer treated by radiation were reviewed to investigate reasons why treatment had to be discontinued, relationship between age and survival, and factors influencing prognosis. Radiation therapy was completed in 77 patients but was discontinued in 27 patients. Preoperative radiation was attempted in 24 patients. An overall median survival of 128 patients was 6.4 months, with 8.5 and 3.3 percent surviving 3 and 5 years. Median survivals of incomplete RT, completed Rt and RT + Surgery were 1.3, 7.7 and 11.3 months. By Kaplan-Meier analysis significant difference was observed in survival rate between incomplete RT and the other two groups, but not between RT and RT + surgery. T1 tumor cases with incomplete RT were characterized by a higher C-Score (higher incidence of comorbidity and complications), lower albumin concentration and poor performance status. Median survivals of 60 years, 70 and 80 were 12, 5.4 and 6.2 months, respectively. Performance status and C-score were significantly different between the 60 yr and 80 yr groups. Survival rates were also apparently affected by the size of the primary tumor and metastasis. Thus important factors influencing prognosis were performance status, albumin concentration, and comorbidity and complications, in addition to stage of tumor itself. Although performance status and albumin concentration were considered directly related to tumor stage, old age may have an adverse effect on these factors through increase of comorbidity and complication. The data may be useful for decision making for treatment of esophageal cancer of the aged.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogiwara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mashima
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanno
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kino
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiba
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate