Brief Reports
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 15, 2004; 10(14): 2145-2146
Published online Jul 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i14.2145
Clinical evaluation of radiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer after metallic stent placement
You-Tao Yu, Guang Yang, Yan Liu, Bao-Zhong Shen
You-Tao Yu, Guang Yang, Yan Liu, Bao-Zhong Shen, Department of Radiotherapy, Tumor Hospital of Harbin University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Bao-Zhong Shen, Department of Radiotherapy, Tumor Hospital of Harbin University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang Province, China. shenbzh@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-451-88513575 Fax: +86-451-86623347
Received: November 12, 2003
Revised: December 13, 2003
Accepted: January 8, 2004
Published online: July 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer after expandable metallic stent placement.

METHODS: Ten cases of advanced esophageal cancer were evaluated, 7 having complete obstruction and 3 with digestive-respiratory fistula. Ten nitinol stents were placed at the site of stenosis. Patients were treated with a total dose of 1200 cGy divided into 3 fractions of 400 cGy 4-7 d after stents placement.

RESULTS: All the 10 stents were placed successfully at one time. After radiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer, the survival period of the cases ranged from 14 to 22 mo, with a mean survival of 17 mo. No re-stenosis occurred among all the 10 cases.

CONCLUSION: Stent placement combined with radiotherapy for esophageal cancer is helpful to prolong patients’ survival and reduce occurrence of re-stenosis.

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