Abstract
Abstract only
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Background: Primary Small Cell of Esophageal Carcinoma (SCEC) is an aggressive tumor with no established treatment guidelines. A treatment strategy was adopted based on small cell carcinoma of the lung, as many clinicopathological features are shared. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from fourteen patients who were treated for small cell of esophageal carcinoma at Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center between 2005 and 2012. All patients were required to have a histological diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. Data were collected retrospectively by case note review and electronic record on demographic details, performance status (PS), comorbidity, treatment, and response to treatment. Results: The data suggest the median age for SCEC diagnosis is 71 years old. Diagnoses in males predominate (64%). The tumors were mainly located in the lower third of the esophagus (71%). The majority of patients with SCEC were in the limited Disease (LD) at the time of diagnosis (71%). About 50% of the patients received chemotherapy alone and 28% received consolidation radiotherapy. Three patients (21%) only received concomitant chemoradiation. None of the patients have Primary Cranial Irradiation (PCI). The overall survival of patients with limited Disease (LD) vs. Extensive Disease (ES) was 22.2 vs. 4.6 months (P=0.013). None of the patients reviewed developed brain metastasis. Conclusions: There is trend in the data that the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy improves local control. Radiotherapy alone is probably inadequate if used alone. It should be combined with adjuvant or neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy. Palliative chemotherapy for patients presenting with extensive disease prolonged survival. PCI should not be a standard treatment for these patients. The data presented are the second largest series from the western world. These data will help establish further guidelines for treatment of the small cell of esophageal carcinoma.