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Management of Oesophageal Carcinoma pp 223–241Cite as

Radiotherapy and Cytotoxic Therapy

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Abstract

Radiotherapy was first used in the treatment of oesophageal cancer soon after the discovery of radium. In a few cases radium was used to give external irradiation gaining temporary relief of symptoms in patients with tumours in the root of the neck. However, it was only when treatment was given using radium inserted into the oesophagus either within a bougie or carried in grooves of a vulcanite tube that cures were obtained (Einhorn 1904; Exner 1904; Guisez 1925; Dufourmental 1930). In the 1930s, techniques were developed to enable radium needles and radium seeds to be implanted directly into oesophageal tumours (Souttar 1934). These techniques were all associated with a number of serious problems and the overall results of treatment were dismal. Perforation of the oesophagus was a major hazard. In addition, the distribution of the sources was often poor, especially when there was significant narrowing of the oesophagus at the upper end of the tumour. This led to inadequate irradiation of some parts of the growth and the delivery of very high doses to others.

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Authors
  1. S. J. Arnott
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. North Middlesex Hospital, Edmonton, London, N18 1QX, UK

    Raymond L. Hurt MB, BS, FRCS (Consultant Thoracic Surgeon) (Consultant Thoracic Surgeon)

  2. St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, EC1A 7BE, UK

    Raymond L. Hurt MB, BS, FRCS (Consultant Thoracic Surgeon) (Consultant Thoracic Surgeon)

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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Arnott, S.J. (1989). Radiotherapy and Cytotoxic Therapy. In: Hurt, R.L. (eds) Management of Oesophageal Carcinoma. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3153-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3153-3_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3155-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3153-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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