title: Evaluation of the value of ENI in radiotherapy for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A retrospective study to compare the failure patterns and effects of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) or involved field irradiation (IFI) for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty nine patients with the cervical and upper thoracic esophageal SCC were analyzed retrospectively; 99 patients (59%) underwent IFI and 70 patients (41%) received ENI. We defined "Out-PTVifi in-PTVeni metastasis" as lymph node metastasis occurring in the cervical prophylactic field of PTVeni thus out of PTVifi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out-PTVifi in-PTVeni cervical node metastasis occurred in 8% of patients in the IFI group, all within 2 years after treatment. However, it occurred in 10% of patients in the ENI group, and these failures happened gradually since one year after treatments. No difference was found in OS and the incidences of Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related esophageal and lung toxicities between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ENI for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal SCC patients did not bring longer OS and better long-term control of cervical lymph nodes. Although ENI might delay cervical nodes progression in elective field; it could not decrease the incidence of these failures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China. luminary1986@sina.com.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. Kuailezhao2006@sina.com.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. Kuailezhao2006@sina.com.
authors.forename: Kuaile
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. yun_0124@sina.com.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. yun_0124@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. jianggl47@sina.com.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China. jianggl47@sina.com.
authors.forename: Guo-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; 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; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015182:Lymphatic Irradiation / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*