The radiologist's view of expandable metallic stents for malignant esophageal obstruction.

Interventional radiologists place esophageal stents with great accuracy and low complication rates. The results of radiologic placement are similar to endoscopic stent insertion. The advantages of radiologic stent insertion are the ability to traverse very small strictures that cannot be crossed endoscopically and the ability to visualize and treat small fistulae and perforations at the time of stenting.