Treatment and long-term outcome of chronic radiation esophagitis after radiation therapy for head and neck tumors: A report of 13 cases

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Digestive Diseases and Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01295922· OSTI ID:6385897

Silvain, C; Barrioz, T; Besson, I; Babin, P; Fontanel, J P; Daban, A; Matuchansky, C; Beauchant, M ^[1]

---

1. CHU J Bernard, Poitiers (France)

The natural history of chronic radiation esophagitis occurring in previously normal esophagus is still unknown. The authors describe here the long-term outcome of chronic esophagitis arising after neck irradiation for oropharynx and larynx carcinomas in 13 consecutive adult patients. The first clinical signs of radiation esophagitis were dysphagia or impossibility of oral intake, which appeared within 26 months (range 2--120 months) after the end of radiation for pyriform fossae carcinoma (N = 5), tonsil carcinoma (N = 2), larynx carcinoma (N = 2), pharynx carcinoma (N = 2), base of the tongue (N = 1), and thyroid carcinomas (N = 1). During upper endoscopy, an esophageal stenosis was found in 11 cases and was associated with ulceration in three cases. An isolated esophageal ulceration was present in only two cases. Chronic radiation esophagitis diagnosis was confirmed by histology and surgery in seven cases. In the last six cases, diagnosis was supported by the absence of first cancer relapses within a median follow-up of two years (16 months to nine years) and by endoscopic findings. Seven patients received parenteral or enteral nutrition. Ten patients were treated by peroral dilatations. These treatments allowed nearly normal oral diet in 11/13 patients. Only one patient was lost of follow-up after 20 months. Four patients died from chronic radiation esophagitis. One of these patients died from massive hemorrhage after peroral dilatation. Four patients died of a second carcinoma with no first cancer recurrence. Four patients were alive after six months to nine years of follow-up. Moderate dysphagia was still present, allowing nearly normal oral feeding. In conclusion, chronic radiation esophagitis is a severe disease with an underestimated frequency. In this study, peroral dilatations appeared to be necessary and were not associated with an increased morbidity. 21 refs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 6385897
• Journal Information: Digestive Diseases and Sciences; (United States), Vol. 38:5; ISSN 0163-2116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ESOPHAGUS
CUMULATIVE RADIATION EFFECTS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
NECK
CARCINOMAS
IRRADIATION
PATIENTS
MORTALITY
DIAGNOSIS
DIET
FEEDING
HEMORRHAGE
HISTOLOGY
LARYNX
NUTRITION
PHARYNX
RADIOTHERAPY
SURGERY
THYROID
TONGUE
BODY
BODY AREAS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORAL CAVITY
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
550603* - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)
550900 - Pathology