The role of radiotherapy in carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus: an audit of the Mount Vernon experience 1980-1989.

Abstract

All 244 patients with carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus registered at the Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment during the decade from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1989 have been audited. We have made a detailed analysis of 110 (45%) with localized disease considered unsuitable for surgery, who completed treatment solely by radiotherapy. The median survival of this group of patients was 8.2 months (range 0.2-54 months). Dysphagia was improved by radiotherapy in 77.3% of cases, the median duration of relief was 24 weeks (range 0-208 weeks) and was maintained until death in 40%. Life table analysis showed that radical compared with less than radical regimens of radiotherapy gave significantly superior relief of dysphagia. This result is unlikely to be due to case selection.

• Authors: M D Leslie, S Dische, M I Saunders, E Grosch, D Fermont, R F Ashford, E J Maher
• Journal: Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)) (Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol)) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 114-8 (Mar 1992) ISSN: 0936-6555 [Print] England
• PMID: 1372818 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Age Factors
• Cancer Care Facilities (statistics & numerical data)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (mortality, radiotherapy)
• Cause of Death
• Deglutition Disorders (mortality, radiotherapy)
• England
• Esophageal Neoplasms (mortality, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Life Tables
• Medical Audit (statistics & numerical data)
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (mortality, radiotherapy)
• Palliative Care (statistics & numerical data)
• Radiotherapy, High-Energy (statistics & numerical data)
• Remission Induction
• Sex Factors