title: Palliative therapy for patients with unresectable esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: Most patients diagnosed with carcinoma of the esophagus do not undergo therapy with curative intent. The focus of treatment for these patients is to maximize their progression-free survival and palliate the most common sequelae of their disease: dysphagia, malnutrition, pain, and intraluminal tumor bleeding. This article discusses the available treatment options for palliation of patients with unresectable esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, St Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA. RFreeman@corvascmds.com
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ascioti
authors.forename: Raja J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mahidhara
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents