Results of endoscopic Nd-Yag laser treatment of inoperable colorectal carcinoma
De Palma, G.D.; Di Matteo, E.; Monaco, A.; Abbruzzese, P.; Belardo, A.; Catanzano, C.
Minerva Chirurgica 51(3): 87-91
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4733 PMID: 8684659 Document Number: 461188
Between November 1986 and December 1993, 94 patients underwent endoscopic laser therapy for inoperable colo-rectal cancers. According to the main clinical symptoms, tumors were divided into obstructing and bleeding; A Nd-YAG non contact laser was used at power setting of 70 to 100 watt. In 28 cases laser therapy was carried out after electrorection of the tumor and in 22 cases after dilation; in 41 cases it was associated with radiation therapy. In 90% of bleeding tumors and in 70% of obstructing tumors we achieved a good result in the short term. In 50% of bleeding tumors and in 65% of obstructing tumors the symptoms recurred after an interval of 8.2 and 6.1 weeks. The main survival period was 11.2 months for bleeding tumors and 7.4 months for obstructing tumors. Two patients with a small rectal cancer are free to neoplasia at 19 and 26 months after laser therapy.