Esophageal stricture after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer: experience of a single institution over 2 treatment periods

Abstract

Background: Risk factors for development of a stricture of the upper esophagus after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer are poorly defined.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of patients diagnosed and treated for esophageal stricture after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Results: The incidence of esophageal stricture after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) was 3.3%. Seventy patients with stricture and 66 patients without stricture were identified. A multivariate analysis showed that there was increased risk of stricture in receiving enteral feeding during EBRT or in receiving a mean dose of >45 Gy to the upper esophagus.

Conclusions: Enteral feeding during EBRT is strongly associated with the development of stricture of the esophagus, as is a mean dose of >45 Gy to the upper esophagus. Treatment of the stricture with Savary-Gilliard bougienage or through scope balloon dilatation is safe and successful but often has to be repeated.