Laser Therapy of Esophageal Carcinoma

SUMMARY 13 Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic Nd - Y AG laser therapy for palliation of advanced esophageal cardnoma were treated between Oct 1989, and July 1991 , in Khatam - al -Anbia Hospital. All patients had severe dysphagia and conventional methods such as surgery , Radiotherapy and chemotherapy failed to treat them. Undoubtedly without laser therapy these patients did not seem to survive more than few weeks. The success rate for opening the obstruction was 86% with 2-3 sessions of laser therapy .Ten out of 13 patients survived at least for 8 months and were able to swallow solid food .Two patients had complications with bleeding and fistula to thrachea.One patient was not able to swallow despite relief of obstruction due to disfunction of esophagus secondary to cancer process.