Cancer of the oesophagus--palliation--laser treatment and combined procedures.

Today, laser photodestruction is a low-risk, easily applied standard procedure for the palliation of malignant stenoses of the oesophagus, the aim of which is to recanalize the stenosis and improve the patient's quality of life. This is confirmed by our own experience in 130 patients, in 96% of whom recanalization proved successful and reproducible at any time. Complications requiring treatment were seen in less than 10% of the cases, and all responded to conservative therapy; only one patient died. In patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the use of complementary measures possibly results in a limited prolongation of survival. Photodynamic therapy offers further possibilities, although its clinical use in gastroenterology is presently restricted to early superficial tumours.