title: Endoscopic Nd: YAG laser therapy for carcinoma of the esophagus: a new palliative approach.
abstract: Since esophageal carcinoma is usually disseminated by the time diagnosis is made, treatment is often palliative. Symptomatic patients for whom no cure was possible were treated endoscopically with the Nd:YAG laser. Five patients aged 49 to 64 years, with tumors ranging in length from 5 to 11 cm, were treated. Significant clinical, endoscopic and radiographic improvements were noted in all patients. No major side effects were encountered. Endoscopic Nd:YAG laser therapy for carcinoma of the esophagus may provide a promising new approach for palliative treatment.
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004724:Endoscopy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*