[Comparison of three different fractionations in radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma--a prospective randomized trial on 80 patients].

A prospective randomized clinical trial on three different kinds of fractionation in radiotherapy for 80 patients with esophageal carcinoma was carried out from March 1987 to September 1987. The fractionation schemes were: Group A- routine fractionation; Group B- accelerated hyperfractionation with twice-a-day irradiation; and Group C- accelerated hyperfractionation with three-times-a-day irradiation. The 2-year survival rates of the respective groups were: Group A- 18.5% (5/27); Group B- 44.4% (12/27); and Group C- 26.9% (7/26). The difference in survivals was statistically significant between Groups B and C (P less than 0.05) but not between Groups A and C (P greater than 0.05). Though with limited duration of follow-up, the authors prefer the twice-a-day accelerated hyperfractionation scheme for esophageal carcinoma.