Improvement of oral ingestion in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and insertion of a self-expanding nitinol stent

Abstract

Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and self-expanding nitinol stent insertion were performed in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer to improve oral ingestion. Twelve patients underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A stent was inserted in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Patients' capacity for oral ingestion was classified into three categories: grade I patients were able to ingest enough food; grade II patients could ingest food but required nutritional support; and grade III patients found it impossible to ingest anything. After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the number of grade I patients increased from three to five but seven patients remained in grades II and III. Four grade II and III patients were treated with stents, after which dysphagia was reduced to grade I. In the grade I patients after treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the duration of grade I was on average 167 days and survival was 191 days. In the patients subjected to stent insertion, grade I lasted 65 days and survival was 149 days. Before the introduction of the stent, grade II patients died, on average, after 91 days. After the introduction of self-expanding nitinol stents, all patients could ingest enough food and were discharged.