1989 Volume 1 Issue 2 Pages 95-100
Nine patients with T4 (A3) esophageal cancer were treated with 192-Iridium (192Ir) brachytherapy following resective surgery between February 1988 and January 1989. None of the primary tumors invading the tracheo-bronchial system, aortic wall and mediastinum (6, 2 and 1 cases, respectively) were completely surgically resected. The tubes used for 192Ir brachytherapy were intraoperatively placed close to the residual tumor sites.D oses of 30 Gy were planned for the 192Ir brachytherapy with external irradiation of 50 Gy also scheduled. Five patients received the total planned dose, but brachytherapy-induced complications-healed with conservative treatment-were observed in 1 patient. As ofM arch 1989, two had not survived and seven recovered without local recurrence. The method was considered safe and effective for the local control of advanced esophageal cancer following resective surgery.
