Treatment of loco-recurrence after resection of esophageal carcinoma

Objective: To analyze the optimum method of radiotherapy for loco-regional recurrence in 45 patients after surgery for esophageal carcinoma. Methods: From June 1993 to June 1999, 45 such patients were treated by radiotherapy. Eleven patients had recurrent lesions in the supraclavicular region, 23 in the mediastinum, 5 in both mediastinum plus supraclavicular area and 6 in mediastinum plus anastomotic orifice. A total dose of 50-80 Gy was given. Nineteen patients received FP (5-Fu+DDP) chemotherapy after radiotherapy. Results: The medium survival was 12 months and the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 51.1%, 26.7% and 11.1%. For those who received R+C and R only, the 3-year survival rates were 21.1% and 3.9%, showing a conspicuous raise in the survival although P>0.05. Multi-variate analysis showed that post-surgical staging (P=0.023) and radiotherapy (P=0.002) were closely related to prognosis. Conclusion: Among the various methods of treating loco-regional recurrence after surgery of esophageal carcinoma, commonly yielding poor results, radiotherapy is still the method of choice. A total dose of >60 Gy is able to effect a good loco-regional control as well as a good result