RESULTS: Twenty-five (12%) of the two hundred and eight patients developed acute
or late grade 3-5 esophageal injury. Among them, nine patients had both acute and
late grade 3-5 esophageal injury, two died of late esophageal perforation.
Concurrent chemotherapy and maximal point dose to the esophagus > or =60 Gy were
significantly associated with the risk of grade 3-5 esophageal injury. Fifty-four
(26%) of the two hundred and eight patients received concurrent chemotherapy.
Among them, 25 (46%) developed grade 3-5 esophageal injury (P = 0.0001