Esophageal cancer after mediastinal irradiation

The authors report 4 patients, without a history of tobacco or alcohol abuse, who developed squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus secondary to mediastinal irradiation. Carcinoma of the esophagus developed in 3 women 8-11 years after mediastinal radiotherapy for breast cancer and in a man 9 years after mediastinal radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Three patients underwent resection, with intrathoracic anastomosis in 2 and cervical in 1. No fistulae were observed despite the presence of esophageal fibrosis. No mediastinal lymph node was metastatic. Patients survived 7, 16, and 26 months, respectively, after resection. This study confirms the concept of radiation-induced carcinogenesis. We conclude that patients with dysphagia and a history of previous mediastinal radiotherapy should undergo repeated endoscopy for biopsy.