[Palliative treatment options for esophageal and gastric cancer]

Abstract

There are several different approaches available for the palliation of esophago-gastric cancer. The decision on which type of therapy is used should be made individually based on an interdisciplinary consensus.In case of inoperable esophageal carcinoma, it becomes the primary objective of the therapy to maintain oral nutrition. This can be achieved through the insertion of self expanding metal stents as a minimally invasive procedure which results in an immediate elimination of dysphagia. As alternative and/or complementary therapy, radiological techniques (external beam radiation, brachytherapy) can be applied. Other locally endoscopic techniques (laser, APC-beamer) are often used for treating local complications of esophageal and inoperable stomach carcinomas. For these carcinomas palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin has been established as a standard regimen.