Follow up of oesophageal cancer therapy at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the pattern of follow-up for oesophageal cancer patients following hospital discharge and reviewing followup results of the different treatment modalities with emphasis on oesophagectomies.

DESIGN:

A retrospective hospital based study covering the period January 1987 to January 2001.

SETTING:

Surgical outpatient clinic, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Determination and the comparison of the one, two and three-year followup rates for the different treatment modalities and their median follow-up period in addition to reviewing the common variables associated with follow-up.

RESULTS:

The median followup for patients managed by oesophagectomy was 9.5 months with a 43%, 22% and 10% one-, two- and three-year followup rates respectively. This compared to a median of two months and a 7% and 3% one-, and two- year followup rate for patients managed by intubation, and a 3-month median followup with a one- and two- year follow-up rate of 12% and 4% respectively for radiotherapy treated patients. Oesophagectomy patients had a better followup compared to intubations and radiotherapy (p<.00001). Oesophagectomy for stage T4 tumours had an apparently better follow-up compared to both stage T1-3 tumours and patients managed with intubations (p=.002 and .02 respectively).