ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the efficacy and toxic reaction of the accelerated hyperfraction radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma. Methods: Eighty patients with esophageal carcinoma were randomized into the conventional fraction group (CF,40 cases) and the accelerated hyperfraction group (AHF,40 cases) from January 1994 to May 1995. CF group received a fraction dose of 2 Gy once a day, 5 times a week and to a total dose of 70 Gy. AHF group received the same dose as the CF group during the first two thirds of the therapeutic course(40 Gy),then followed by a fraction dose of 1.5 Gy one time twice a day, with an interval of more than 6 hours, and to a total dose of 30 Gy. The total dose of 2 stages was 70 Gy. The same 10 mV linear accelerator X ray radiotherapy was used in both groups. Results: The 3 year actual survival and tumor local control rates in the group AHF were significantly improved compared with group CF, being 42.5% vs 25% and 52.5% vs 25% respectively. There were no significant differences in radiation reactions and complications between 2 groups. The radiation treatment could be completed without any break. Conclusion: The accelerated hyperfraction radiotherapy can improve the tumor local control and survival rates in esophageal carcinoma. The radiation reactions and complications with the AHF radiotherapy are not significantly greater than with the CF radiotherapy. The patients can tolerate the AHF radiotherapy. [