title: [Self-expanding metal stents in the treatment of neoplastic esophageal stenosis. The technic and preliminary results].
abstract: Self-expanding metal stents have been recently used for the treatment of neoplastic esophageal stenoses. In our series, nitinol Strecker stents were implanted in ten patients with malignant esophageal intrinsic or extrinsic strictures, as a definitive palliation. Thirteen stents in all were used: two stents were positioned in three patients to recanalize the esophagus. The prostheses could always be inserted in the treated patients and in all of them swallowing was markedly improved. No major early complications were observed after stent insertion. All the stents but one were patent until the patient's death. Two patients are alive and bearing well-functioning stents. Self-expanding metal stents are to be preferred to plastic endoscopic tubes because their caliber is smaller at the time of insertion and they do not require general anesthesia, as endoscopic tubes sometimes require. Moreover, their complication rate is lower for both early and late complications. Tumor ingrowth through the stent mesh with stent occlusion is the major pitfall of these prostheses, together with the impossibility to use them when esophageal fistulas are present: these limitations will be soon overcome when silicone-coated expandable stents are on the market.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Radiodiagnostica C, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori di Milano.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Colnago
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giovannardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Severini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000497:Alloys; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol
vernacular_title: Protesi metalliche autoespansibili nel trattamento delle stenosi neoplastiche esofagee. Tecnica e risultati preliminari.