External beam radiotherapy with intraluminal brachytherapy for superficial esophageal cancers. The analyses of safety, acute and late adverse effects of combination therapy

Twenty patients with superficial esophageal cancers were treated with external beam radiotherapy and intraluminal brachytherapy. The median age was 75 years, and most patients had other systemic concomitant disease. The median dose of external beam radiotherapy was 60 Gy (40-60), and the median dose of brachytherapy was 10 Gy/4 fx. (10-18 Gy). The 2-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 90% and 94%, respectively. Acute adverse effects in the esophagus were relatively mild in most patients (Grade 0-1 according to RTOG Acute Radiation Morbidity Scoring Criteria), all patients were treated without interruption. Radiation induced pneumonitis (Grade 2) was found in one patient. Late adverse effects in the esophagus were mild in 18 patients without local recurrence (Grade 0; 14 patients, Grade 1; 4 patients, according to RTOG/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Scheme). No severe late adverse effects including stenosis, bleeding and fistula was found. The swallowing of food was excellent in all patients. (author)