Successful treatment of esophageal cancer with airway invasion with induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy

J Thorac Oncol. 2009 Mar;4(3):432-4. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e3181989efa.

Abstract

Esophageal cancer with airway invasion with or without fistula presents a challenging therapeutic dilemma with no standard therapy. Recent studies in Japan have focused on the use of definitive chemoradiotherapy. However, this approach is associated with significant treatment-related morbidity and mortality. We present a case report of a patient with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with bronchial invasion who was treated to a clinical complete response with induction chemotherapy followed by consolidation with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The patient also underwent restaging with a positron emission tomography scan after induction chemotherapy. Such a staged approach may reduce the morbidity of upfront radiation. The use of an interim positron emission tomography scan may also identify early treatment failure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Deglutition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Endosonography
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Risk Assessment
  • Treatment Outcome