[Laser therapy of colorectal tumors]

Between Jan. 1, 1986 and March 31, 1988 a total of 128 patients with tumours of the colon and rectum were treated by Nd-Yag laser at Nürnberg City Hospital. There were 36 benign and 92 malignant lesions. The indications for laser therapy were stenosis, bleeding, spasms of the pelvic floor and increased mucous production. Initial control of these problems could be achieved in 105 patients (82%), however, the symptoms recurred in 50% of the malignant and 47% of the benign tumours. Complications of laser treatment were encountered in 13 patients necessitating an operative intervention in 6. In all, 34 patients underwent additional surgery after laser treatment. Most frequently, a diverting colostomy had to be provided (n = 18) while 12 patients underwent anterior resection; in three an abdomino-perineal resection was performed and in one patient a Hartman procedure was necessary. The median observation time of patients with benign tumours is, at present, 16 months with 72% being free of disease. In malignant tumours the median survival time of patients with laser therapy only is 4.5 months; those with additional surgical treatment survived a median of 17.5 months.