Endoscopic palliation of obstructive esophagogastric malignancy.

To investigate the efficacy of alternative endoscopic palliative therapies for obstructive esophagogastric malignancy, the experience of 53 patients treated between 1979 and 1986 was analyzed. Forty-seven patients had placement of intraesophageal prostheses. Ten patients had prostheses placed after neodymium:YAG laser therapy. In four of these patients, prosthesis placement was planned as part of the initial therapy. Twelve patients initially received laser therapy. In six, recurrent tumor was treated with intraesophageal prostheses 3 to 24 weeks after laser treatment. Comparing neodymium:YAG laser therapy to placement of the prosthesis, both techniques provided similar improvement in dysphagia. Patients receiving prostheses required less additional treatment for dysphagia. Life table analysis comparing survival rates from diagnosis to death showed no difference. The palliation provided by prostheses and neodymium:YAG laser appears to be quite similar; however, the prosthesis seems to be more lasting and require fewer resources.