title: Laser palliation for colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: A review was conducted of 27 patients with colorectal carcinoma treated palliatively with endoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. There were 25 rectal carcinomas and 2 primary invasive sigmoid colon carcinomas. Of the 25 rectal carcinomas, there was 1 carcinoma in situ, 16 primary cancers, and 8 recurrent rectal carcinomas. The level of the lesions from the anal verge ranged from 0 to 25 cm, with a mean of 7.2 cm. The length of the lesions ranged from 1.5 to 8.5 cm, with a mean of 5 cm. The mean number of Nd:YAG laser treatments was three, with a range from one to nine. The duration of the treatments ranged from 30 to 90 minutes, with a mean of 40 minutes. Four of 27 patients (15%) developed complications. The success rate in terms of the relief of symptoms was established in 23 of the 27 patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology and Endoscopy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mandava
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nava
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery