title: Endoscopic palliation of malignancies of the upper gastrointestinal tract using Nd:YAG laser: results and survival in 308 treated patients.
abstract: Three hundred eight patients with obstructing malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract were submitted to endoscopic Nd:YAG laser palliation. The number of sessions as well as the number of days and total energy required for initial recanalization of the stenosis were related to tumor length. Luminal patency was obtained in 94% of patients, but improved swallowing was achieved in 74% of patients. The technical success rate did not depend on tumor site, whereas functional positive results are related to the location of the stenosis, with worst results for tumors involving the upper third of the esophagus. Life-table analysis revealed that 1-year survival was 23% when a luminal patency was achieved and 7% when treatment failed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endoscopy, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dal Fante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002299:Cardia / Q000601:surgery; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009354:Neodymium; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010166:Palliative Care; D012008:Recurrence; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium