Brachytherapy improved dysphagia more than stenting in people with inoperable oesophageal cancer: Abstracted from: Homs MYV, Steyerberg EW, Eijkenboom WMH et al. Single-dose brachytherapy versus metal stent placement for the palliation of dysphagia from oesophageal cancer: a multicentre randomised trial. Lancet 2004; 364:1497–504

Abstract

The prognosis of oesophageal cancer is poor (10–15% 5-year survival rate) and dysphagia is a common complication in advancing disease. Palliative therapy aims to relieve dysphagia and prevent fistulation. Brachytherapy (intraluminal radiotherapy) and stenting are two commonly used palliative techniques for relieving dysphagia. The relative effectiveness of these techniques is not known. The role of teletherapy (TT) supplementary to intraluminal high dose rate (ILHDR) brachytherapy (BT) in the palliation of advanced oesophageal cancer (E33021). Available from: http://www-crp.iaea.org/ (Searched Jan 2005). A randomized phase III study in advanced oesophageal cancer to compare palliation of dysphagia in patients treated with radiotherapy versus chemo-radiotherapy (TROG 03.01/ NCIC CTG ES2). Available from: http://www.ranzcr.edu.au, http://www.ctg.queensu.ca/ (Searched Jan 2005).