Radiation-induced esophageal carcinoma

Radiation-induced carcinoma of the esophagus is rare and only 8 cases have been reported since 1957. This article presents 2 additional patients in whom esophageal carcinoma developed in segments previously exposed to large therapeutic doses of irradiation. The first patient had received 5,000 rads to her mediastinum and the second patient 3,200 rads to her neck region. The latent intervals were 11 years and 30 years, respectively.