[Laser therapy and tube implantation for palliative treatment of inoperable esophageal and cardia cancer].

Laser photocoagulation and intubation are effective measures for palliation of the unresectable esophago-cardial malignancy. Laser therapy is especially useful for short strictures and noncircular and proximal lesions. Intubation usually leads to a rapid relief of dysphagia especially in patients with extensive tumor involvement of the esophagus; for esophago-bronchial fistula special tubes are available. By using the newly developed metal endoprotheses, the higher complication rates of the plastic tubes as compared with laser therapy could probably be decreased. Nowadays, endoscopic palliation of esophageal carcinoma is usually applied as part of multimodal oncological treatment concepts.