Intracavitary brachytherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

From September 1983 through January 1989, 8 patients with a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus AJCC stages I to III, were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy following external irradiation. Within 3 months after completion of treatment, there was radiographic evidence of complete response in 6 of the 8 patients. None of the responders recurred locally. All the patients have died, with a mean survival of 17 months. One patient died of a stroke 2 1/2 years after completion of treatments without clinical evidence of esophageal cancer. Treatment was well tolerated, with minimal acute toxicity, and one patient developed stricture at the site of tumor, which was successfully treated by dilatation. Addition of systemic chemotherapy to this regimen warrants investigation.