Published in:
01-04-2003 | Clinical Investigation
Malignant Esophagogastric Junction Obstruction: Efficacy of Balloon Dilation Combined with Chemotherapy and/or Radiation Therapy
Published in: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology | Issue 2/2003
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Purpose: To assess the efficacy of
balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
for palliation of dysphagia due to malignant esophagogastric junction
strictures.
Methods: Fluoroscopically guided balloon
dilation was attempted in 20 patients. The causes of strictures were
gastric adenocarcinoma (n = 10) and esophageal squamous
cell carcinoma (n = 10). Scheduled chemotherapy and/or
radiation therapy followed balloon dilation in all patients.
Results: There were no technical failures or major
complications. After balloon dilation, 15 (75%) patients showed
improvement of dysphagia. No patient complained of reflux esophagitis
during the follow-up period. Among the 15 patients, seven needed no
further treatment for palliation of dysphagia until their deaths. The
remaining eight patients underwent repeat balloon dilation
(n = 4) or stent placement (n = 4)
3–43 weeks (mean 15 weeks) after the initial balloon dilation because
of recurrent dysphagia.
Conclusion: Balloon dilation
combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy seems to be an easy
and reasonably effective palliative treatment for malignant
esophagogastric strictures.