title: The use of self-expanding stents in esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer palliation: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to examine the impact of self-expanding stents versus locoregional treatment modalities in the setting of esophageal cancer palliation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present meta-analysis pooled the effects of outcomes of 1,027 patients enrolled in 16 randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The meta-analysis revealed an advantage to the use of stents compared to locoregional modality treatments with respect to the number of patients requiring reinterventions, although the latter treatment arm had a higher 1-year survival. No difference was observed between the use of the antireflux stents and conventional stents in relieving reflux. Previous chemoradiotherapy had no impact on complications, procedural deaths, and overall patient survival. Differences in outcomes among stents were minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional self-expanding stents and anti-reflux stents are equally effective. Although the risk difference for 1-year survival favoured locoregional palliative treatment modalities, the latter were associated with a higher number of patients requiring reintervention.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Surgical Department and Surgical Oncology Unit, Korgialenio-Benakio Red Cross Hospital, 11 Mantzarou Str., Neo Psychiko, Athens, Greece. ggsgourakis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgourakis
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gockel
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radtke
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dedemadi
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goumas
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mylona
authors.forename: Hauke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsiamis
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karaliotas
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010166:Palliative Care; D017594:Publication Bias; D012372:ROC Curve; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome