Endoscopic treatment of postradiation strictures
Spinelli, P.; Milani, F.; Cerrai, F.G.; Mancini, A.; Ali, D.C.; Palazzi, M.; Pizzetti, P.
Tumori 79(1): 34-36
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8916 PMID: 8497919 Document Number: 417603
Background: Esophageal stricture is a rare complication of radiotherapy: reports on its incidence and management are therefore anecdotal. Methods: From January 1978 to September 1992, 44 patients presenting with an esophageal stricture related to a previous radiation treatment were endoscopically dilated at the Endoscopy Division of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan. Results: Esophageal recanalization was obtained in 95% of the patients treated, and in 79% of these normal eating habits were restored. No strict correlation was observed between radiation dose and severity of the stricture, or time elapsed between first treatment and endoscopic dilation. Conclusions: In our experience, endoscopic dilation was a safe effective procedure and represented an effective palliative tool in dysphagic patients with esophageal stricture due to previous local radiotherapy.