ENDOSCOPIC, BIOPSY AND FUNCTIONAL RESULTS IN IRRADIATED ESOPHAGUS CARCINOMA

83 patients of average age 64 (36-86) years with esophageal cancer wer e irradiated according to a prospectively defined treatment concept. A fter 60 Gy, reendoscopy with biopsy was scheduled. If the tumor was st ill macro- or microscopically described, a boost to 70 Gy was given. D uring consistent weekly monitoring particular attention was focused on patients' ability to feed themselves. While initially only 7.2% could swallow solid food, by the end 84% of patients with a radiation dose of 60 Gy or more reported normal daily eating. Patients in whom the tu mor was no longer present endoscopically or histologically survived fo ur times longer (13.5 months) than those with persistent malignoma.