Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy For Esophageal Carcinoma

Objective:To observe and evaluate the instant response and side-effects of 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT) for the patients with esophageal carcinoma.Materials and Methods:1.Clinical materials:From Nov 2007 to Mar 2008,28 patients with pathological confirmed esophageal squamous carcinoma were treated with 3D-CRT(the 3D-CRT group).During the same interval,another 56 compatible esophageal carcinoma patients were treated with conventional radiaton therapy(the CRT group),to make a comparision with the 3D-CRT group.2.Methods:The patients in CRT group received conventional radiotherapy in 2. 0 Gy/f,1f/d,5f/w during the first two thirds of the course,and then in 1.2Gy/f,2f/d,5d/w in the last one third of the course.The total dose of CRT group is 64-66Gy.10 of the patients in 3D-CRT group were treated by the same method with CRT group during the first two thirds of the treatment course,and then were treated by 3DCRT in 1.2Gy/f,2f/d,5d/w.The other 18 patients of the 3DCRT group were treated by 3DCRT during the whole treatment course in the same fractionation with CRT group.The total dose of 3DCRT group is 64-70Gy.Results:1.The short-term effective rate of the treatment group and the control group was 85.7%(24/28) and 60.7%(34/56) respectively with statistically significant difference.P=0.0472.Local control rates of treatment group and control group were 78.6% (22/28) and 53.6%(30/56) respectively with statistically significant difference.P=0.0373.1-year survival rates were 71.4%20/28) and 58.9%(33/56) 3DCRT group and CRT group respectively(P=0.379).The survival curve showed a trend towards improving the long-term survival.4.As for acute and late radiation side effect,there was no significant difference between the two groups..Conclusion:Compared with conventional fractionation radiotherapy,3D-CRT is able to improve the local controlrate of esophageal carcinoma,with tolerable acute and late radiation side effects.The value of 3DCRT in long-term results needs further study in clinic.