We conducted a retrospective analysis on 884 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and treated with either the neutron brachytherapy in combination with external beam radiotherapy (NBT + EBRT) or 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) to determine the differences in efficacy and morbidity between the two treatment groups.

The 884 ESCC patients treated with either NBT + EBRT or 3D-CRT between 2002 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression was used to compare oncologic outcomes of the two groups of patients in the context of other clinically relevant variables. The acute and chronic toxicities associated with the two groups were compared using Fisher exact and log-rank tests, respectively.

Among the 884 patients, 545 received NBT + EBRT and 339 received 3D-CRT (i.e. EBRT-only). The age range is 39–95 years (median 66). The follow-up time range is 3–145 months (median 32). The analysis shows that the NBT + EBRT group has higher overall survival rate and local control rate than that of the 3D-CRT group. The acute toxicity effects were acceptable for both groups of patients with the NBT + EBRT group showing higher rates of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia and the 3D-CRT group showing higher rates on fistula and massive bleeding.

The patients treated with NBT + EBRT showed better oncologic outcomes than those treated with 3D-CRT. The toxicity effects were acceptable for both groups with the NBT + EBRT group showing higher rates on the acute effects and the 3D-CRT group showing higher rates on the late effects.