PALLIATION OF DYSPHAGIA IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURES - COMPARISON OF RESULTS OF RADIOTHERAPY, CHEMOTHERAPY AND ESOPHAGEAL STENT TREATMENT

Dysphagia is the earliest and the most common symptom of malignant dis ease in the esophagus. The palliative effects on dysphagia of radiothe rapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) were evaluated retrospectively and com pared with the effect of the self-expanding stent, evaluated in the pr ospective study. After completion of treatment, 78 (56%) of 140 patien ts treated with RT; 31 (49%) of 63 patients treated with CT; and 53 (8 1%) of 66 patients treated with stent insertion were free from dysphag ia. Stent treatment has a good and prompt effect on dysphagia and can be recommended for palliation of patients with malignant esophageal st rictures.