[Radiation ulcer after radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma]

17 patients with esophageal ulceration (benign or non-cancerous ulcer) after irradiation for esophageal carcinoma are reported. Nearly half of these 17 patients had been misdiagnosed as cancer recurrence (malignant ulcer) and deprived of further effective treatment. In this series, the cause of misdiagnosis is analysed. The clinical symptoms of benign ulcer and its manifestations on the X-ray films are described. The etiology and differentiation between the benign and malignant ulcer are discussed.