title: Palliation of malignant oesophageal obstruction by endoscopic alcohol injection.
abstract: Thirty six-patients with inoperable cancers of the oesophagus or gastric tumour in the cardia were treated by endoscopic alcohol injection. After dilatation using Savary dilators, absolute alcohol was injected in 0.5-1 ml aliquots into protuberant parts using a sclerotherapy needle. The mean volume per session was 7.8 ml. The mean dysphagia score improved from 2.7 before treatment to 1.4 after treatment (p < 0.001). Complications included mediastinitis in one patient and tracheo-oesophageal fistulas in two patients. The mean duration of palliation before the development of recurrent dysphagia was 35 days. The mean survival was 82 days. Endoscopic alcohol injection is effective in relieving malignant dysphagia. This inexpensive and easily available technique merits comparative studies with more established forms of therapy, such as laser photocoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol