Clinical and dosimetric factors of radiation-induced esophageal injury: Radiation-induced esophageal toxicity

Table 3 RTOG grading for acute esophageal injury.

Grade	Description
0	No change
1	Mild dysphagia or odynophagia, requiring topical anesthetic, non-narcotic agents, or soft diet
2	Moderate dysphagia or odynophagia, requiring narcotic agents or liquid diet
3	Severe dysphagia or odynophagia with dehydration or weight loss (>15% of pretreatment baseline), requiring nasogastric feeding
4	Complete stricture, ulceration, perforation or fistula
5	Death

RTOG, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. During the follow-up period, chest X-ray examination was performed at intervals of 2-3 mo. CT scan of the chest was carried out every 2-3 mo after treatment, or earlier if clinically indicated.