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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2014; 20(36): 13185-13190
Published online Sep 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.13185
Published online Sep 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.13185
Clinical features, outcomes and treatment-related pneumonitis in elderly patients with esophageal carcinoma
Jian He, Zhao-Chong Zeng, Shi-Ming Shi, Ping Yang, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: He J and Zeng ZC designed and performed the research; Yang P contributed new reagents and analytic tools; He J analyzed the data; He J, Zeng ZC, Shi SM and Yang P wrote the paper.
Supported by The Ministry of Civil Affairs of the China, No. 2008 47-2-53
Correspondence to: Zhao-Chong Zeng, MD, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Handan Rd 220, Shanghai 200032, China. zeng.zhaochong@zs-hospital.sh.cn
Telephone: +86-21-64041990-3699 Fax: +86-21-64041990
Received: May 22, 2014
Revised: July 2, 2014
Accepted: July 24, 2014
Published online: September 28, 2014
Revised: July 2, 2014
Accepted: July 24, 2014
Published online: September 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: We found that the tumor characteristics of esophageal cancer in elderly patients were relatively less malignant compared with those in non-elderly patients. The incidence of lymph node and distant metastases, and recurrence or metastasis after radiotherapy were lower. The incidence of treatment-related pneumonitis was much higher in the elderly patients. A proper radiation dose could improve the curative effect and decrease the incidence of treatment-related pneumonitis in elderly patients.