Prognosis of 5-year survivors of esophageal cancer treated with radiation and chemotherapy

Seventeen 5-year survivors, treated with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, were followed up from 5 to 10 years. Out of them, 10 cases died within 10 years after the completion of radiotherapy. Late local recurrence and remote metastasis of esophageal cancer were observed in 3 cases, and other malignancies of the stomach, lung and esophagus were found in 3 other cases. Furthermore, the cause of death was late radiation injuries (radiation myelopathy and pulmonary fibrosis) in 2 cases and intercurrent disease in 2 others. Dysphagia due to cicatricial stricuture of the esophagus occured in 5 cases. (author)