Laser therapy for esophageal cancer. Results and additional endoscopic treatments.

Between 1/1/1988 and 5/31/1991, we treated 96 patients with laser therapy to the esophagus. In 61 inoperable patients, laser therapy has been performed initially. In 64% of these 61 patients, laser therapy alone gave sufficient relief of symptoms until death. However, in 36% of the patients, additional endoscopical interventions had to be performed. In 14 patients (23%), a prosthesis became necessary; 13 patients (21%) needed a percutaneous endoscopical gastrostomy. We conclude that laser therapy has an important role in the treatment of esophageal cancer, but in a significant number of patients, it might not be sufficient alone.