title: Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for patients with esophageal stricture after radiation treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and clinical effectiveness of fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation in patients with esophageal stricture after radiation therapy (RT).
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 1993 through December 2004, fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was performed in 15 patients with esophageal strictures secondary to previous RT. Technical success, clinical success, recurrence of dysphagia, primary and secondary patency rates, and complications related to the procedure were retrospectively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five balloon dilations were performed in 15 patients, with a mean of 1.7 dilations per patient (range, 1-5). Technical success was achieved in all procedures. One patient was immediately lost to follow-up and another underwent elective esophageal surgery 13 days after the procedure. Of the remaining 13 patients, clinical success was achieved 11 (85%). Two of 13 patients exhibited recurrence of dysphagia before 1 month after balloon dilation. Among the 11 patients in whom clinical success was achieved, seven exhibited maintained initial improvement of dysphagia until their last follow-up (mean, 174 days) and four exhibited recurrence of dysphagia after the first balloon dilation. Dysphagia recurred 2-128 days (mean, 67.2 d) after the first balloon dilation in six of the 13 patients (46%), who underwent further balloon dilation and/or stent placement. The primary and secondary patency rates at 1, 3, and 6 months were 86%, 68%, and 47% and 100%, 92%, and 62%, respectively. There were no major complications. Type 1 and 2 esophageal ruptures occurred after 12 dilations in nine patients; they were treated conservatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation for esophageal stricture after RT can be safe and effective. However, the high rate of recurrent dysphagia requires repeated dilations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Bok
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yong Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Kwon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae-Ik
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yang Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Myeong Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome