Endoscopic palliation of esophageal and cardial cancer:: Nd:YAG laser and prosthesis

From November Ist, 1992 to January 31st 1997, 227 patients with inoperable esophageal and cardial carcinomas were treated with Nd:YAG Laser therapy and prosthesis intubation. The retrograde technique was used in most cases. The tumor involed in 75 pts the Cardia, in 65 the middle thoracic Esophagus, in 47 pts the lower thoracic Esophagus, in 23 in the upper thoracic Esophagus and in 17 in the cervical Esophagus. The indications for palliative Nd:YAG Laser and prosthesis intubation were a locally advanced or metastatic tumor in 146 pts (64,4%) and poor surgical risk in 81pts (35,6%). The quality of palliation was evaluated according to the ability to swallow. The mean survival of the patients during the follow up was 22 weeks for the Laser Therapy and 16 weeks for the prosthesis intubation.