Intraluminal brachytherapy using the high dose rate microSelectron in the palliation of carcinoma of the oesophagus.

A total of 197 patients, who presented to the Christie Hospital with advanced carcinoma of the oesophagus, were treated with the high dose rate microSelectron between June 1988 and June 1992. In 54%, a single intraluminal brachytherapy treatment resulted in useful palliation, which was sustained for a substantial part of the patient's remaining life. The simplicity of the treatment, which could be completed as a day case procedure and did not cause significant morbidity, commends itself in the palliation of these patients who have poor overall survival and quality of life. Approaches that might improve the response rate in those patients who did not gain significant palliation after a single treatment are discussed.