Intraluminal brachytherapy in the treatment of oesophageal cancers--some preliminary results
Wee, J.T.; Theobald, D.R.; Chua, E.J.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 23(2): 226-230
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0304-4602 PMID: 7521615 Document Number: 427803
Cancer of the oesophagus is the sixth commonest cancer in males in Singapore. The majority occur in the elderly and patients are often debilitated at presentation. Treatment is often aimed at palliation only. In this article, the preliminary results of 15 patients treated solely on a high dose rate remote afterloading Gammamed brachytherapy machine with an Iridium 192 (Ir192) source are reported. The patients were given 15 Gray (Gy) in a single or two 7.5 Gray fractions. All the patients treated had some improvement of their dysphagia, and seven out of 11 (63%) evaluable patients had symptom improvement lasting at least 11 weeks.