A comparison of the results of the preoperative and postoperative irradiation for carcinoma of the esophagus

The results of preoperative and postoperative irradiation to 160 patients with esophageal carcinoma were evaluated. Irradiation was given preoperatively to 121 patients and postoperatively to 39 patients. The resection rates for preoperative irradiation group and postoperative irradiation group were 71.1% and 61.5% respectively. However, no differences were found in the rat of curative resection and the rate of operative death between the two groups. In esophageal carcinoma of stage I, postoperative irradiation produced more favorable results in the one year and the two year survival rates than the other group. However in stage III patients, preoperative irradiation was more effective than the postoperative one. No difference was found between the pre- and postoperative irradiation in stage II patients. In order to improve the treatment results, it is concluded that resection followed by the irradiation is effective for early stage carcinoma and that preoperative irradiation is more advisable for advanced carcinoma. (Ueda, J.)