New endoscopic palliative treatments in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Many gastrointestinal cancers are diagnosed when no curative approach is possible. Patients with these malignancies frequently have dysphagia, jaundice, intestinal obstruction and other severe symptoms which significantly impair their quality of life. We present our experience with two new endoscopic techniques for palliative treatment in these patients: placement of biliary endoprostheses to alleviate malignant obstructive jaundice and destruction of neoplastic tissue by phototherapy with laser rays.