Chemo/tomotherapy stereotactic body radiation therapy (chemo/SBRT) for the salvage treatment of esophageal carcinoma following trimodality therapy: a case report

Tumori. 2012 Sep-Oct;98(5):143e-145e. doi: 10.1700/1190.13217.

Abstract

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) patients presenting a local recurrence following trimodality therapy (chemoradiaton and surgery) have limited palliative treatment options when the three major modalities of therapy have been exhausted. In addition, some patients experience a local recurrence or develop a metachronous cancer in a previously irradiated site, without evidence of systemic disease. For these patients there is a potential for cure, although the risk of further distant recurrences remains high.

Case report: We report of a successful concomitant chemo/SBRT treatment in a case of locally advanced metachronous squamous cervical EC, which was diagnosed in a patient previously treated with trimodality therapy for a squamous tonsillar carcinoma.

Result: Chemo/SBRT seems to be a reasonable salvage option for patients without distant metastases who have exhausted standard therapies.

Conclusions: Our experience also suggests that a concomitant chemo/SBRT treatment appears to be either feasible or effective and chemo/SBRT can be considered also in selected patients affected by EC with squamous histology and with neoplastic infiltration of the trachea.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Contrast Media
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Dose Fractionation, Radiation
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / complications
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / complications
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / therapy*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiosurgery*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tonsillar Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss
  • Whole-Body Irradiation*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18