Necrotising Candida oesophagitis after thoracic radiotherapy: significance of oesophageal wall oedema on CT.

Although oesophageal candidiasis is usually a superficial mucosal infection, necrotising Candida oesophagitis has been reported to cause oesophageal perforation or lung abscess. We report the case of an elderly Japanese man presenting with painless dysphagia after thoracic radiotherapy for oesophageal cancer. Non-contrast CT demonstrated segmental and oedematous thickening of the oesophageal wall.

Long-term results of chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer, using daily low-dose 5-fluorouracil and cis-diammine-dichloro-platinum (CDDP).

Background: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of radiation combined with daily, low-dose protracted chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: We analyzed data for 68 patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, including 18 surgical candidates. Standard fractionation (total dose range, 60 to 70 Gy) was used for radiotherapy.

Cardiac metastasis from Merkel cell skin carcinoma.

A 54-year-old woman presented with cardiac metastasis of a Merkel cell carcinoma. Chemotherapy was not effective for the metastasis sites; therefore, radiotherapy was performed for the metastatic cardiac tumors, and it reduced the volume of the cardiac tumors. Cardiac metastasis from Merkel cell carcinoma is rare.

[Limited stage small cell lung cancer].

Recent progress in the treatment of limited stage small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC) is reviewed. SCLC represents 15-20% of all lung cancers. Combination chemotherapy is considered the treatment of choice because SCLC usually is widespread at diagnosis.

Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma: natural history, prognostic factors, and outcome.

Background: Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma are extremely rare, and information regarding the natural history, results of treatment, and possible prognostic factors in these patients is limited.

Methods: The records of 36 patients with brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma who were treated between 1986 and 2000 were reviewed. For brain metastases, 12 patients (33%) were treated with surgical resection followed by radiation therapy (S+RT), and the remaining 24 patients were treated with radiation therapy alone.