Yan Song1, Lv-Hua Wang, Jie He, Jin-Wan Wang. 1. Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The treatment and prognosis of primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESC), an uncommon esophageal malignant tumor, have seldom been reported. This study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of PESC. METHODS: Clinical data of 151 patients treated in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 1982 to 2007 were reviewed. The median age of the patients was 59 years. According to VALSG criteria, 138 patients had limited disease (LD), 13 had extensive disease (ED). Patients received surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test using SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS: The 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60-month survival rates of these patients were 86.6%, 56.7%, 24.8%,17.4% and 12.0% respectively. The clinical stage and vessel involvement were independent prognostic factors of PESC. The median survival time was longer in LD patients(12.3 months) than in those underwent local treatment alone (surgery or radiotherapy). CONCLUSIONS: PESC is a malignant tumor with early metastasis and poor prognosis. Combined therapy based on chemotherapy may improve the short term survival of PESC patients.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The treatment and prognosis of primary esophageal small cell carcinoma (PESC), an uncommon esophageal malignant tumor, have seldom been reported. This study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of PESC. METHODS: Clinical data of 151 patients treated in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 1982 to 2007 were reviewed. The median age of the patients was 59 years. According to VALSG criteria, 138 patients had limited disease (LD), 13 had extensive disease (ED). Patients received surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test using SPSS 13.0 software. RESULTS: The 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60-month survival rates of these patients were 86.6%, 56.7%, 24.8%,17.4% and 12.0% respectively. The clinical stage and vessel involvement were independent prognostic factors of PESC. The median survival time was longer in LD patients(12.3 months) than in those underwent local treatment alone (surgery or radiotherapy). CONCLUSIONS: PESC is a malignant tumor with early metastasis and poor prognosis. Combined therapy based on chemotherapy may improve the short term survival of PESC patients.