Follow up of oesophageal cancer therapy at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the pattern of follow-up for oesophageal cancer patients following hospital discharge and reviewing followup results of the different treatment modalities with emphasis on oesophagectomies.


METHODS
A retrospective hospital based study covering the period January 1987 to January 2001.


METHODS
Surgical outpatient clinic, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.


METHODS
Determination and the comparison of the one, two and three-year followup rates for the different treatment modalities and their median follow-up period in addition to reviewing the common variables associated with follow-up.


RESULTS
The median followup for patients managed by oesophagectomy was 9.5 months with a 43%, 22% and 10% one-, two- and three-year followup rates respectively. This compared to a median of two months and a 7% and 3% one-, and two- year followup rate for patients managed by intubation, and a 3-month median followup with a one- and two- year follow-up rate of 12% and 4% respectively for radiotherapy treated patients. Oesophagectomy patients had a better followup compared to intubations and radiotherapy (p<.00001). Oesophagectomy for stage T4 tumours had an apparently better follow-up compared to both stage T1-3 tumours and patients managed with intubations (p=.002 and .02 respectively).
Ogendo
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Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi.
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D007630:Kenya; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome