Therapeutic endoscopy in the esophagus

Abstract

As more experience is gained in therapeutic endoscopy, there is an increased tendency to update not-so-new techniques. Thus, self-dilation using balloon catheters or mercury bougies are proposed to treat benign strictures of the esophagus, as well as local injections of corticosteroids. Injection of sclerosing agents is also advocated for the palliation of malignant dysphagia. Nonetheless, new procedures are still being developed. Self-expandable stents may be a major breakthrough and replace standard esophageal stents, once efficacy equals ease of insertion. Combining endoscopic procedures to regional (radiation therapy) and systemic (chemotherapy) treatment offers a good alternative to surgical palliation for most esophageal tumors. Echoendoscopy allows a more precise staging of esophageal tumors, thus permitting choice of the best-suited therapeutic option for each individual case.