Endoscopic laser ablation of duodenal carcinoids: a new treatment modality

Four cases of polypoidal carcinoid tumors in the duodenum were treated with Nd:YAG laser ablation after histological confirmation. None of the patients had any distant spread of the tumor. All the four tumors were less than 2 cm in size. In each case, the tumor was fully ablated in a single endoscopic laser sitting. All cases were done under local anesthesia and the patients were hospitalized for 1 day. All patients have been symptom free over a mean follow up period of 13 months (6 to 20 months). There has been no endoscopic evidence of local recurrence. Laser therapy is safe and effective and carries no mortality or morbidity. Endoscopic laser ablation is an effective alternative to surgical resection of small carcinoid tumors.