Histopathological evaluation of hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy for carcinoma of the esophagus.

The effectiveness of preoperative hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy for 25 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus was histopathologically compared with findings in 104 patients treated preoperatively with irradiation only. The preoperative hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy increased the rate of "markedly effective" in the resected tissue, when compared with findings in cases of irradiation only. With regard to long survival rates, the 5-year survival rates of patients classed as "markedly effective" with preoperative combined therapy exceeded events in patients classed as "moderately effective," and "ineffective," with statistical significance. Preoperative hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy is the recommended treatment for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.