Chinese clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced esophagitis

Acute radiation-induced esophagitis is a common complication of radiotherapy for esophageal, lung, and other malignancies. Therefore, understanding the diagnosis, grading, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of radiation-induced esophagitis is essential. Currently, there are few consensuses and guidelines on radiation-induced esophagitis worldwide, mainly the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) clinical guideline: evidenced based approach to the diagnosis and management of esophageal eosinophilia and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and the Digestive Endoscopy Society of Chinese Medical Association's "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Reflux Esophagitis." However, no consensus or guidelines specifically addressing radiation-induced esophagitis have been established. Efforts have been made to organize experts to draft Chinese consensus or guidelines, but the recommendations in these guidelines also vary owing to differences in expert backgrounds. The clinical practice guidelines presented herein were developed for the first time with the joint participation of Chinese radiotherapy experts. Drugs and methods with clinical significance were selected by reviewing and summarizing the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced esophagitis and combining them with China's national conditions. After multiple rounds of discussion and revision, clinical practice guidelines were established in line with the needs of Chinese clinicians, providing useful clinical guidance for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced esophagitis.