Roles of nutrition support team for esophageal carcinoma patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy / 中国肿瘤临床

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate whether the nutrition support team (NST) benefits esophageal carcinoma (EC) patients who are concurrently undergoing chemoradiotherapy. Methods: Between June 2012 and December 2013, 40 EC patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy were divided into the NST group and routine treatment (RT) group, with 20 patients in each group. At the end of chemoradiotherapy, the nutritional status, incidence of complications, and completion rates of radiotherapy were evaluated. The length of hospital stay (LOS) and cost were also compared between the two groups. Results:The nutrition and blood parameter values of the NST group were better (P0.05) for the patients of the NST group. Conclusion: NST could maintain the nutritional status and improve the treatment compliance and tolerance of EC patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy, thereby shortening the LOS time and reducing the costs.