title: Role of photodynamic therapy in the palliation of obstructing esophageal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this non-randomized study was to determine the role of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a multimodal approach for the palliation of advanced esophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive patients with obstructing esophageal cancer were enrolled in this study. Each subject had dysphagia, and nine could not swallow fluid. External beam radiotherapy or a self-expandable metal stent was used following PDT for dysphagia due to recurrence of the malignancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 4 weeks post-PDT, a significant improvement in the dysphagia score was observed in 90% of patients, from 2.75 ± 0.91 to 1.05 ± 0.83 (p < 0.05). Patients with recurrent dysphagia underwent stent insertion at an average of 63 days (range, 37 to 90). The rate of major complications was 10%. Two esophageal strictures occurred, which were treated by placement of a modified expandable stent across the stricture. The median survival in these cases was 7.0 ± 0.6 months. One patient that was treated with PDT and radiotherapy is alive and showed a complete tumor response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT as a multimodality treatment is safe and effective for relieving malignant esophageal obstruction with minimal complications.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Young Koog
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chan Sup
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Shim
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010166:Palliative Care; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008670:Metals