Preoperative radiation for carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus involving adjacent organs--a comparative and multivariate analysis of prognosis.

Controversy remains over the comparative efficacy and subsequent prognosis for preoperative radiation for carcinoma of the esophagus involving the trachea, bronchus, and/or aorta. Results of a multi-variate analysis are reported using clinical data from 57 cases from 1981 to 1987. Based on both the survival-rate curves using the Kaplan-Meier method and the adjusted survival-rate curves using Cox's proportional hazards linear model, there was no significant difference in prognosis between patients who received preoperative radiation and those who did not. This analysis indicates that preoperative radiation at doses of 30Gy produces no clinical advantage and therefore is not the best treatment for carcinoma of the esophagus involving these adjacent organs.