The role of telecobalt rotation irradiation in the treatment of the intrathoracic carcinoma of the esophagus.

A nonselected group of 45 patients was treated for the purpose of curing a carcinoma of the esophagus, only by irradiation using a 360 degrees rotation irradiation technique. Twenty-one patients were treated with a 220kV X-ray beam and 24 patients with a telecobalt gamma-ray beam. The 2-year survival rate was 11%. The 2- and 5-year survival rate was better in the group of patients who were treated with telecobalt gamma-rays, than in the group treated with 220-kV X-rays. No differences were found in local cure between the 2 groups of patients. No improvement can be expected with increase of tumour dose above 60 Gy (6000 rad) on the 80%-isodose line. Up till now the rotation irradiation with Co-60 in the treatment of a carcinoma of the esophagus remains one of the most simple and adequate irradiation techniques.