Portal size of prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma

Objective: To compare and analyze the effect of prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma. Methods: 102 such patients were treated with prophylactic radiotherapy after radical resection, to a total dose of 50-60 Gy. The extensive portal included supraclavicular region on both sides, entire mediastinum, the site of anastomosis and left gastric lymph node region in 43 patients. The regional portal range was different according to the different location of primary lesion in 59 patients. Results: The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 76%, 51% and 43% respectively, with a median survival of 30 months. The 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate was 77%, 52% and 41% in the extensive portal and 76%, 49% and 45% in the regional portal, respectively (P=0.884). According to mukivariate analysis, N stage, number of metastatic lymph nodes and tumor length were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: Regional portal does not lower the survival rate when prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy is used in e- sophageal carcinoma. (authors)