[Endoscopic palliation of esophageal and bronchial carcinomas]

Luminal obstruction from tumor growth can in relation to bronchial carcinoma lead to airway and/or esophageal obstruction in breathlessness or swallowing difficulties respectively. Self-expanding stents have become an established method of restoring luminal patency in both the esophagus and central airways, leading to significant symptomatic improvement. Due to anatomical constraints particularly in processes around the tracheal carina, stent implantation within the bronchial system often poses greater difficulty than within the esophagus. Technical difficulties do however arise in the esophagus, specifically in relation to stenotic high-cervical tumors, as well as distal stenosis. In this regard, advances in stent development have resulted in significantly improved outcomes with modern stents. In high-cervical esophageal tumors as well as locally invasive tumors with evidence of tracheobronchial fistulae a shared interdisciplinary care between the gastroenterology and pulmonary teams is necessary for a satisfactory outcome.