Summary
Ten patients with unresectable esophageal malignant tumor have been managed by Nd-YAG
laser palliative therapy. Esophageal obstruction, and dysphagia, the most frequent
symptoms, were relieved in all cases after periods ranging from 5 to 14 days. The
mean total energy required was 26.121 watts sec-1. No serious immediate or late complication was encountered, except for one small
transient bleeding without clinical repercussion. Two relapses of dysphagia were successfully
managed by the same procedure. This new palliative approach has to be compared with
the other available methods, surgical resection and bypass procedures, radiotherapy
or endoscopic prosthetic intubation. Its high degree of effectiveness in providing
rapid relief of dysphagia, and its low morbidity rate will give to laser therapy an
important place in the future palliative management of esophageal cancer, either alone
or in combination with other treatments.
Key words:
Esophageal Cancer - Nd-YAG laser - Malignant tumors
