title: Laser therapy for esophageal cancer. Results and additional endoscopic treatments.
abstract: Between 1/1/1988 and 5/31/1991, we treated 96 patients with laser therapy to the esophagus. In 61 inoperable patients, laser therapy has been performed initially. In 64% of these 61 patients, laser therapy alone gave sufficient relief of symptoms until death. However, in 36% of the patients, additional endoscopical interventions had to be performed. In 14 patients (23%), a prosthesis became necessary; 13 patients (21%) needed a percutaneous endoscopical gastrostomy. We conclude that laser therapy has an important role in the treatment of esophageal cancer, but in a significant number of patients, it might not be sufficient alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Clinics, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Zittel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allgaier
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Grund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009354:Neodymium; D010166:Palliative Care; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000628:therapy; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium