A Case of Inoperable Esophageal Carcinoma with Hepatic and Nodal Metastases Which Showed a Long-term Survival after Chemoradiotherapy Including Nedaplatin

We report a case of metastatic esophageal carcinoma successfully treated with chemoradiotherapy. A 61-year-old man, diagnosed as suffering from advanced esophageal carcinoma with liver and lymph node metastases, was treated with a combination of nedaplatin (90 mg/m2/day, 1 h drip infusion, day 1), 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m2/day, continuous infusion, days 1-5), and radiotherapy (2 Gy/day, days 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19). The cycle was repeated twice every 5 weeks from July 2, 1997. He achieved a complete response 1 month after finishing two courses of chemoradiotherapy followed by an additional three courses of chemotherapy without radiation. Seven months after the completion of radiotherapy, pericardial effusion with negative cytology was recognized. The effusion was treated by pericardiocentesis and drainage for several days. After drainage, the effusion could be easily managed with diuretics. This patient is still alive with no evidence of disease more than 2.5 years after the initiation of the treatment.