title: [Clinical analysis of 81 cases with primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognostic factors in patients with primary small cell carcinoma (SmCC) of the esophagus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one esophageal SmCC patients were treated from 1999 to 2007 in our department, and their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 81 patients, 52 (64.2%) were in limited stage (LS) and 23 (28.4%) in extensive stage (ES). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 55.6%, 6.2% and 2.5%, respectively, with a median survival time of 13.5 months for the whole group; 69.2%, 7.3% and 3.6%, respectively, with a median survival time of 15 months for the LS group; while only 25.2%, 0 and 0, respectively, with a median survival time of 6 months for the ES group. Multivariate analysis showed that disease stage, performance status, multidisciplinary comprehensive therapy and mode of treatment were independent prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Esophageal small cell carcinoma is a rare but highly aggressive malignant tumor. Disease stage and performance status are important prognostic factors. Appropriate treatment may play a key role in improving the survival of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Kai
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Yong-Kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin