[Radiation therapy of esophageal cancer following the correction of metabolic disorders of the body].

The results of radiation therapy of 126 patients with locally spread esophageal cancer and dysphagia of the III and IV degree have been analysed. Irradiation has been carried out after intense correction of metabolic disturbances in 86 patients of the main group as compared with the control group of 50 patients irradiated after gastrostomy. The intense correction therapy has resulted in stabilization of metabolic disturbances of homeostasis, has increased the antitoxic function of the liver and provided the conditions for completion of the radical radiotherapy by the majority of patients. Upon gastrostoma establishment, body mass loss and decrease of blood serum albumin level have continued, causing the discontinuation of the course of radical radiotherapy for half of the patients. Compared to controls, complete and significant responses were observed twice more frequently. Due to this 31% of the main group patients are alive after 3-year follow-up while almost all the patients from the control group died within the first two years of follow-up.