Radiation Therapy for Esophageal Cancer in Japan: Results of the Patterns of Care Study 1999-2001

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.03.073· OSTI ID:21282033

Kenjo, Masahiro ^[1]; Uno, Takashi ^[2]; Murakami, Yuji; Nagata, Yasushi ^[1]; Oguchi, Masahiko ^[3]; Saito, Susumu; Numasaki, Hodaka; Teshima, Teruki ^[4]; Mitsumori, Michihide ^[5]

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1. Division of Radiation Oncology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima (Japan)
2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba (Japan)
3. Department of Medical Engineering, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka (Japan)
4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute Ariake Hospital, Tokyo (Japan)
5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto (Japan)

Purpose: To describe patient characteristics and the process of radiotherapy (RT) for patients with esophageal cancer treated between 1999 and 2001 in Japan. Methods and Materials: The Japanese Patterns of Care Study (PCS) Working Group conducted a third nationwide survey of 76 institutions. Detailed information was accumulated on 621 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who received RT. Results: The median age of patients was 68 years. Eighty-eight percent were male, and 12% were female. Ninety-nine percent had squamous cell carcinoma histology. Fifty-five percent had the main lesion in the middle thoracic esophagus. Fourteen percent had clinical Stage 0-I disease, 32% had Stage IIA-IIB, 43% had Stage III, and 10% had Stage IV disease. Chemotherapy was given to 63% of patients; 39% received definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) without surgery and 24% pre- or postoperative CRT. Sixty-two percent of the patients aged {>=}75 years were treated with RT only. Median total dose of external RT was 60 Gy for definitive CRT patients, 60 Gy for RT alone, and 40 Gy for preoperative CRT. Conclusions: This PCS describes general aspects of RT for esophageal cancer in Japan. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for the majority of patients. The standard total external RT dose for esophageal cancer was higher in Japan than in the United States. Chemoradiotherapy had become common for esophageal cancer treatment, but patients aged {>=}75 years were more likely to be treated by RT only.

• OSTI ID: 21282033
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 75; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CARCINOMAS
CHEMOTHERAPY
COMBINED THERAPY
ELDERLY PEOPLE
ESOPHAGUS
HISTOLOGY
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
SURGERY