[Effectiveness of radiochemotherapy in esophageal cancers]

Simultaneous radio-chemotherapy of the inoperable or irresectable oesophagus cancer.

Thirteen patients with inoperable oesophagus cancer were treated between 1995-98. The therapy was started with intraluminal HDR AL irradiation for the recanalisation of the oesophagus (Dose 8 Gy in 0.5 cm deep, two-three times, one week interval repeated) followed by the percutem megavolt irradiation one week after the last HDR AL session (50 Gy total dose, 5 x 2 Gy/week fractions in 5 week). The chemotherapy was started simultaneously with the percutem megavolt irradiation (three courses Cisplatin-5-Fluorouracil combination, repeated in four weeks intervals).

The swallow function has been improved in 7/13 patients with 1-3 Units (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Radio-Onkologie Dysphagical Classification) remained unchanged in 4/13 and it got worse in 2/13 patients 1 and 3 Units, respectively. Side effects: Oesophagitis of different degree occurred in all patients, consecutive transitory dysphagia developed in 9/27 (33.3%) patients. Follow up time: average 14 month (minimum 3 months, maximum 39 month). The duration of the swallow function improvement: average 13 month (minimum 3 month, maximum 39 month).

The initial results refer to the favourable effect of the palliative radio-chemotherapy at the inoperable oesophageal cancer.