Abstract
Nine patients with dysphagia caused by unresectable tumors of the esophagus and cardia
(eight with squamous-cell carcinomas and one with adenocarcinoma) were treated with
absolute (95 g/1) alcohol mixed with 0.5 % methylene blue. Total volumes ranging from
16 to 41 ml were injected endoscopically during sessions separated at 5-day intervals.
The results were evaluated by endoscopic and radiological follow-up, as well as clinically,
according to Bown's dysphagia score. Treatment had to be stopped in one patient with
a preexisting esophagobronchial fistula. In the remaining eight patients, the mean
dysphagia score decreased from 3.4 before treatment to 1.2 after treatment. After
treatment, all patients were able to swallow a solid or semisolid diet. Treatment
was repeated when dysphagia recurred, with a mean interval of 31.5 days between treatments.
No complications were encountered. In our view, the preliminary results using this
simple and inexpensive technique warrant comparative trials with other methods of
palliation.
