American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 146, Issue 3, 519-522
Copyright © 1986 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Radiographic appearance of the esophagus and stomach after laser treatment of obstructing carcinoma
EL Wolf,
J Frager,
LJ Brandt,
DH Frager,
LH Bernstein,
and
TC Beneventano
Nd:YAG laser therapy is an attractive palliative treatment for carcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia. Twenty-five patients with these tumors underwent laser therapy over a 2-year period, receiving a total of 52 courses of therapy with 189 treatments. Treatments per course averaged 3.6, with a mean of two courses per patient. Luminal diameter is increased with this method; symptomatic improvement in dysphagia occurred in all patients after one course of therapy. Radiographic improvement also is seen. The complication rate in this series was four (2.1%) of 189 procedures, consisting of one perforation, one tracheoesophageal fistula, one pneumopericardium, and one pneumoperitoneum without leak.