Experience with intraluminal radiotherapy in advanced XXXX .

@entity1 @entity5 @entity189 @entity3 @entity1282
Despite improvement in the diagnostic modalities, surgical technique, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, mortality and morbidity due to @entity189 esophagus continues to be dismal. Combination of external and intraluminal radio therapy (ILRT) has emerged as a powerful and promising palliative therapy in this disease. Thirty four @entity1 with inoperable @entity5 esophagus treated with ILRT during June 1991 to December 1993 were evaluated to assess its palliative effects. Seventeen of these @entity1 had received additional chemotherapy and external radiotherapy. Thirteen @entity1 received only radiotherapy (both external radiotherapy + ILRT) and the remaining 4 received only ILRT. They were followed up for a mean period of 8.3 months (range 2 to 28 months) during which one @entity1 was lost to follow up. Eight had a follow up of less than 6 months. Eight (33%) amongst the remaining 25 @entity1 were considered disease free, 15 had recurrent and progressive disease, one developed @entity3 and one @entity1 died. In 21 (66%) @entity1282 markedly improved. Nine (26%) @entity1 survived beyond 1 year and the median survival for all @entity1 was 8 months. Associated radiation morbidity was documented in 13 (38%) @entity1 . We conclude that combination of external radiotherapy and ILRT is an effective and safe therapy for inoperable @entity5 .
