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Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
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Palliation of dysphagia
R D van der Bogt1, B D Vermeulen2, A N Reijm1
1Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Best Practice & Research. Clinical Gastroenterology
|December 16, 2018
Summary
Managing dysphagia in incurable esophageal cancer involves palliative options like stent placement or radiotherapy. Optimal treatment selection remains challenging due to limited high-quality evidence and evolving patient characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Dysphagia management is crucial in palliative care for esophageal cancer.
- Current palliative options include esophageal stent placement and radiotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current palliative treatment options for dysphagia in esophageal cancer.
- To highlight challenges in selecting optimal palliative approaches.
- To emphasize the need for further research and evidence.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on palliative treatments for esophageal cancer dysphagia.
- Comparison of esophageal stent placement and radiotherapy efficacy and limitations.
- Discussion of intra-luminal brachytherapy and fractionated external beam radiation therapy.
Main Results:
- Esophageal stent placement offers rapid dysphagia relief, suitable for poor prognosis patients, but complications and recurrence occur.
- Intra-luminal brachytherapy provides sustained palliation for good prognosis patients, though its availability is limited.
- Fractionated external beam radiation therapy is a common alternative due to limited intra-luminal brachytherapy access.
Conclusions:
- Selecting the optimal palliative approach for esophageal cancer dysphagia is challenging due to limited high-quality evidence.
- Evolving treatment options and patient characteristics necessitate robust evidence from large randomized studies.
