1996 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 35-41
Between 1980 and 1994, 36 patients with loco-regional recurrent esophageal cancer were treated with radiation therapy (RT) at Kyoto University Hospital. Local response and survival rates of the patients were analyzed. The 2-and 5-year cumulative survival rates of the patients were both 13%. Pretreatment and treatment parameters were evaluated in an univariate analysis for the endpoint of survival rates. Tumor size (≤3cm vs.>3cm) and initial treatment (surgery vs.RT) were significant variables for survival rates. In addition to the parameters, interval between initial treatment and recurrence (≤6 months vs.>6 months), distant metastasis at the time of recurrence, and recurrent sites (mediastinal lymph nodes, neck lymph nodes vs. esophagus, abdominal lymph nodes) also affected the survival rate, although not significantly. In terms of treatment methods, all three tumors treated with accelerated hyperfractionation showed CR. On the other hand, RT with chemotherepy did not improve the prognosis. In conclusion, aggresive RT is indicated for patients with recurrent esophageal cancer who were initially treated with surgery and had only mediastinal or neck lymph nodes recurrence of ≤3cm in diameter.
