Dysphagia is a distressing symptom commonly found in patients with oesophageal malignancy. Endoscopic laser therapy, in isolation or in conjunction with other treatments, can offer effective palliation.
The procedure is outlined together with discussion of the advantages and complications of this technique.
Earlam R., Cunha-Melo JROesophageal squamous carcinoma: 1. A critical review of survery. Br J Surg1980 ; 67: 381-90.
2.
Bown SGPalliation of malignant dysphagia: surgery, radiotherapy, laser, intubation alone or in combination. Gut1991; 32: 841-44.
3.
Moses FM, Peura DA, Wong Rkh, Johnson LFPalliative dilatation of oesophageal carcinoma. Gastrointest Endosc1985; 31: 61-63.
4.
Liakakos TK, Ohri SK, Townsend ER, Fountain SWPalliative intubation for dysphagia in patients with carcinoma of the oesophagus . Ann Thorac Surg1992; 53:460-63.
Kaloo AN, Fleischer DE, Chatlani PTEndoscopic laser therapy for carcinoma of the oesophagus and gastric cardia . In: Krasner N ed. Lasers in gastroenterology. London: Chapman and Hall Medical, 1991: 137-50.
7.
Fleischer D. , Kessler F., Haye O.Endoscopic Nd YAG laser therapy for carcinoma of the oesophagus: a new palliative approach. Am J Surg1982; 143: 280-83.
8.
Barr H., Krasner N., Raouf A., Walker RJProspective randomised trial of laser therapy only and laser therapy followed by endoscopic intubation for the palliation of malignant dysphagia. Gut1990; 31: 252-58.
9.
Barr H., Krasner N.Prospective quality-of-life analysis after palliative photoablation for the treatment of malignant dysphagia. Cancer1991 ; 68: 1660-64.
Chatlani PT , Barr H., Krasner N.Longterm survivors of Nd-YAG laser therapy for upper gastrointestinal carcinoma [Abstract]. Gut1989; 30: A1475.
12.
Karlin DA, Fisher RS, Krevsky B.Prolonged survival and effective palliation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus following endoscopic laser therapy. Cancer1987; 59: 1969-72.
13.
Sargeant IR , Loizou LA, Tobias JS, Blackman G., Thorpe S., Bown SGRadiation enhancement of laser palliation for malignant dysphagia: a pilot study. Gut1992; 33: 1597-601.
14.
Mellow MH, Pinkas H.Endoscopic laser therapy for malignancies affecting the oesophagus and gastroesophageal junction: analysis of technical and functional efficacy. Arch Intern Med1985; 145: 1443-46.
15.
Kohler B., Rieman JFIncidence of bacteraemia after endoscopic laser treatment of stenosing processes in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Am J Gastroenterol1987; 82: 1026-28.