Ten-year follow-up of esophageal cancer treated by radical radiation therapy: analysis of 869 patients.

The 10-year follow-up 869 patients with esophageal cancer treated by radiation is presented with emphasis on treatment methods, and results. The survival rates declined as the staging of the lesion advanced (p less than 0.01). The results improve with the shortening of the lesion (p less than 0.005) in the absence of metastasis. The effect of radiation is closely related to the dose given. A booster dose of 5-10 Gy in addition to the conventional curative dose of 60-69 Gy may increase the long-term survival of this cancer. The causes of the external irradiation failure are mainly recurrence and out of control of disease. Also, the author has discussed the occurrence and prevention of some complications.