[Indications and limitations of laser treatment for early gastric cancer and palliative treatments for malignant obstruction of the esophagus and stomach].
The long-term effect of endoscopic laser treatment for early gastric cancer as a local curative procedure was reported. Forty-seven patients with endoscopically diagnosed early gastric cancer whose surgical risk was critical or who refused surgery were treated by either photocoagulative Nd: YAG laser (YAG) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) with argon dye laser and hematoporphyrin derivatives (HpD) or both and followed-up for more than 3 years. Thirty-one patients were initially treated by YAG. One patient was lost to follow-up. Sixteen of 30 cases (53%) treated by YAG were negative for cancer on biopsy for 9 to 73 months (mean 3 years and 7 months) after the initial treatment. Sixteen cases were initially treated by PDT. Eight of 14 cases (57%) treated by PDT with argon dye laser were negative for cancer on biopsy for 19 to 35 months (mean 1 year and 7 months). Ten of 13 cases treated by combined laser therapy were negative for cancer on biopsy for 12 to 77 months (mean 3 years and 2 months). Curative effect of YAG and PDT was expected in lesions of superficially elevated mucosal cancer (type) IIa less than 20mm and well demarcated superficially depressed mucosal cancer (type IIc) less than 10mm. PDT was superior to YAG in treating early gastric cancer, particularly when the margin of lesion is unclear, and depth of cancer invasion is estimated to be submucosal. Risks of lymph node metastasis in these lesions are reportedly minimal as well. Quality of life scores did not decrease when the patients were treated by lasers, but did so statistically significantly in the surgically treated group of patients. Therefore, we conclude that the endoscopic laser is the treatment of choice of treatment for early gastric cancer as a local curative procedure in the aged if they have a curable lesion as mentioned above. As a palliative treatment, 34 patients with neoplastic obstruction of the esophagus and stomach were treated by dilators with or without intubation of prosthesis tube and laser recanalization. Functional efficacy (ability to eat solid or semi-solid diet which could not be eater before treatment) was noted in 64% of 11 cases treated by dilators alone, 75% of 12 cases treated by intubation of prosthesis tube and 45% of 11 cases treated by lasers. There was a greater complication rate in the intubation group also. Patients with malignant stricture due to mediastinal lymph node metastasis were at higher risk of perforation.
Ito
Y
Y
Dept. of Endoscopy, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital.
Kameya
A
A
Kano
T
T
Kobayashi
S
S
Kasugai
T
T
Hotta
S
S
D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D010166:Palliative Care; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*