[Endoscopic recanalization with alcohol in the treatment of dysphagia of neoplastic origin]

Nineteen patients with dysphagia were treated by endoscopic injection of ethanol, to induce tumoral necrosis. Dysphagia was present in patients with inoperable, unresectable or recurrent esophagogastric cancer. Prior treatment, patients had a mean dysphagia grade of 3.22. After the first session, they had a mean of 2.05. An optimum dysphagia grade mean was 1.47. The period intertreatment was X 45 days. There were no complications associated with the method. The results suggest this therapy is a good palliative procedure that, in a short time and with a low cost, can improve the life quality in selected patients.