Radiation reactions and complications of esophageal (a) response to external irradiation
Esophageal exposure to systemic reactions are mild, such as loss of appetite, fatigue, decreased blood and so on, generally do not deal with.
1. Esophageal reaction
Exposure to 1 – 2 weeks, tumor volume of 10 – 20Gy, esophageal mucosal congestion and edema, dysphagia may increase, generally do not have to deal with. Irradiated volume of 30 – 40Gy, may occur after chest pain and swallowing pain, symptomatic treatment or anti-inflammatory treatment.
2. Tracheal response
When the tumor reached 30–40Gy/3–4 weeks after irradiation, there will be bronchitis inflammatory response, mainly as a dry cough, severe post-radiation can be converted to intractable cough, increased upper respiratory tract infection, cough may be given , anti-inflammatory and other symptomatic treatment.
Radiation reactions and complications of esophageal (b) complications
Mainly for bleeding, occur in approximately 1%. Found in tumor piercing fiber membrane perforation, penetration when the trachea or mediastinum, causing pneumonia or mediastinitis, the rate was 3% – 4%. As technology improved irradiation, radiotherapy rare pneumonia caused by radiation, but the elderly who have chronic respiratory disease should pay attention. Radiation myelopathy is a serious complication of radiotherapy, the rate was 1% – 4%, the incubation period after radiotherapy often 6 months to 2 years.
External radiation reactions and complications of esophageal, its clinical manifestations of a transient and progressive two: a transient typically lasts 2 – 3 months, symptoms disappeared; for severe cases of paraplegia and even death. Therefore, we should minimize the amount of the spinal cord to prevent the occurrence of radiation myelitis.