The Observation Of Traditional Chinese Medicine In Preventing And Treating The Acute Radiation-induced Esophagitis

Radiation-induced esophagitis is a frequent acute side effect in curative and palliative radiotherapy of thoracal and cervical tumors. Radiation-induced esophagitis presents various symptoms such as mild substernal burning sensation, severe pain, odynophagia and dysphagia. Radiation-induced esophagitis often results in treatment interruption, which may severely affect the probability of control of the local disease in patients undergoing chest radiotherapy. No effective regimen that would reduce the incidence and severity of this complication has been identified up to now.[Objective]:This study was designed to observe the clinical curative effect and safety of treating of acute radiation-induced esophagitis.[Methods] The study adopts random and double-blind clinic method.Selected44cases of patients with esophageal cancer are divided into two groups, the treatment group (22cases)and the control group(22cases). Treatment group is given herbal electuary for activating blood clearing heat and nourishing yin (1bag,twice a day). Control group is given placebo (1bag,twice a day). The course of treatment for both groups was5-7weeks from start to finish of radiotherapy. Observe the clinical curative effect and safety of two groups.[Results]1The incidence of acute radiation-induced esophagitis between two groups have no statistic significance (86.36%vs90.91%).2The effective rate of acute radiation-induced esophagitis in treatment group is significantly higher than that of control group(73.68%vs35.00%,P<0.05).3The grade>3and4acute esophagitis using RTOG criteria was observed42.11%in the treatment group,60.00%in the control group. Comparing the two groups have no significant difference (P>0.05).4The KPS in two groups wasn’t a significant difference between before and after treatment (P>0.05).And the KPS wasn’t a significant difference between the two groups after treatment.(P>0.05)5The weight in two groups declined, and there was a significant difference between before and after treatment.(P<0.05).But there wasn’t a significant difference between the two groups after treatment.(P>0.05)6No obvious toxic adverse effects were found.[Conclusion] The herbal electuary for activating blood clearing heat and nourishing yin is effective and safe for the treatment of acute radiation-induced esophagitis. It can relieve clinical symptoms such as pain and swallowing difficulties. And it can shorten the disease course.