title: [Treatment of unresectable esophageal carcinoma by stenting with or without radiochemotherapy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the benefits of post-stenting radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for unresectable esophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with unresectable esophageal carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups: patients in group A (n = 27) were treated with stenting alone, and those in group B (n = 26) were treated with stenting followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Comparison was made by assessing their survival time, quality of life (QOL), degree of dysphagia, and stenting-related morbidity, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant improvement in dysphagia and QOL between the two groups. Although there was no difference in the frequency of stenting-related complications, re-stenosis occurred much less frequently in group B patients (P = 0.007). The mean survival time of patients was 245 +/- 41 days and 262 +/- 43 days in group A and group B, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.813).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides decreased recurrence of stenosis, post-stenting radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy does not provide additional benefits for survival.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Hospital, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510060, China. fjh@medmail.com.cn
authors.forename: Jian-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Tie-hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guo-wei
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hua-qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents