Laser palliation of esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

Forty-five cases of advanced esophageal carcinoma were treated with Nd:YAG laser, to relieve dysphagia.

METHODS

There were 36 males (80%) and nine female (20%) patients. The mean age of the patients was 55.87 years. Thirty-nine patients (86.6%) were found to have squamous cell carcinoma. Middle third growths were found to be most common (66.6%), followed by lower third (20%) and upper third (13.3%) tumours. The mean dysphagia grade at presentation was 3.33 with all 45 patients (100%) having dysphagia.

RESULTS

After three months of treatment, the mean dysphagia grade improved to 1.73 with 39 patients being able to eat at least soft or solid food. Mean number of laser sessions required was 3.3. The mean weight of the patients also increased from 45.13 Kg to 47.71 Kg. Three patients developed an esophageal perforation (6.6%), out of whom two died. No other major complication was observed.

CONCLUSION

Nd:YAG laser is thus an excellent means of palliation of distressful symptom of carcinoma of esophagus with expectable morbidity and mortality.