OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical feasibility and efficacy of endoscopic metal stenting combined with radiotherapy for treatment of medium and late stages of esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSThirty-four patients of late stage esophageal carcinoma were treated with endoscopic stent implantation in combination with radiotherapy. Evaluations of CES stainless steel metal stent on the effect of radiation, clinical symptom alleviation and complication and survival rates in both groups were made.

RESULTS(1) CES stainless steel metal stent had no effect on radiation dosage distribution. (2) Dysphagia was markedly alleviated in both groups and different complication rates were observed between the two groups. (3) Six, nine and twelve month survival rates of inpatients treated with combined therapies were significantly higher than in simple stent implantation patients.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic metal stenting in combination with radiotherapy was a feasible and practical management in treating medium and late stages esophageal carcinoma and was superior to simple metal stent implantation.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; mortality ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Palliative Care ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Survival Rate