ADJUVANT POSTOPERATIVE RADIATION-THERAPY AFTER CURATIVE RESECTION OF SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE THORACIC ESOPHAGUS - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Postoperative radiation therapy following curative resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus was investigated in a prospective randomized study, A group of 33 patients received postoperative radiation therapy and were compared to a control group of 35 patients treated by surgery alone, No statistically significant differences were noted between the two treatment groups concerning overall and disease free survival rates. Postoperative irradiation significantly increased the incidence of fibrotic strictures of the esophagogastric or esophagocolonic anastomoses and caused a delayed recovery of patients quality of life, Based on these results, we believe that postoperative radiation therapy alone cannot be advocated as a adjuvant therapy following curative resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.