Palliation of Oesophagogastric Neoplasms with Nd:YAG Laser Treatment

Abstract

The palliative effect of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment of malignant strictures of the oesophagus and cardia was prospectively evaluated in 30 patients. Most (n = 28) were primarily treated for dysphagia, and swallowing was improved in 21 and normalized in 14 of these patients. Two patients were successfully treated for bleeding. Six patients developed complications (including two perforations), and four of these were fatal. The median survival was 4 months (range, 17 days to 14 months). It is concluded that in a great number of patients with inoperable cancer of the oesophagus and cardia, laser treatment is better than other palliative procedures.

In-Vivo Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Monitoring of Endoscopic Laser Applications in the Porcine Gastrointestinal Tract

“…Laser therapy for stenosing tumors of the gastrointestinal tract has become a well-recognized treatment option [1,2]. One of the drawbacks of the technique is the risk of iatrogenic perforation, since the depth of laser-induced heat-coagulation cannot be assessed endoscopically [3]. Gradual ablation of the tumor using multiple treatment sessions is therefore carried out.…”