Abstract
Although external beam radiotherapy has a well-established role in the management of oesophageal cancer, its potential to cure is extremely low. A review by Earlam and Cunha-Melo (1980) gives survival rates of 18% at one year, 8% at 2 years and 6% at 5 years. Temporary relief of dysphagia is achieved but local recurrence occurs in 80% of cases and an unpleasant death with aspiration pneumonia results either from malignant obstruction of the oesophagus or from tracheo-oesophageal fistula (Flores et al. 1988).
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© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Pagliero, K.M. (1989). Brachytherapy (Intracavitary Irradiation). In: Hurt, R.L. (eds) Management of Oesophageal Carcinoma. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3153-3_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3153-3_13
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3155-7
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