[Laser treatment of inoperable cancer of the esophagus and cardia].

The palliative effect of laser treatment for obstructing carcinomas of the oesophagus and gastric cardia was evaluated in 16 patients, between 59 and 81 years of age (median 73 years) and treated during the years 1986-89. All patients had severe dysphagia and none were able to eat solid food. They were judged inoperable because of advanced disease (9), reduced general condition, high age or concomitant disease (5). Two patients refused surgery. There was no procedure-related mortality. Complications were oesophageal perforation (1), bleeding (1) and development of fibrotic stricture (1). Ability to swallow was improved in all but one patient, and 13 became able to eat solid food. Seven patients needed repeated treatment 1-5 times at intervals of 3-10 weeks (median five weeks) between treatments. The results suggest that endoscopic laser treatment represents a good alternative in the palliative treatment of malignant obstructions in the oesophagus and gastric cardia.