ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the benefits of post-stenting radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for unresectable esophageal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-three patients with unresectable esophageal carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups: patients in group A (n = 27) were treated with stenting alone, and those in group B (n = 26) were treated with stenting followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Comparison was made by assessing their survival time, quality of life (QOL), degree of dysphagia, and stenting-related morbidity, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no statistically significant improvement in dysphagia and QOL between the two groups. Although there was no difference in the frequency of stenting-related complications, re-stenosis occurred much less frequently in group B patients (P = 0.007). The mean survival time of patients was 245 +/- 41 days and 262 +/- 43 days in group A and group B, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.813).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Besides decreased recurrence of stenosis, post-stenting radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy does not provide additional benefits for survival.</p>
