[Palliative intubation of esophageal prosthesis in two patients with lung cancer]

Case one: A 61-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of coughing. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was diagnosed. The patient was treated with bronchial artery infusion of cisplatin and mitomycin C, followed by irradiation; and there was a partial response. Eighteen months later he was admitted to the hospital because of dysphagia. An esophageal prosthesis was inserted because of esophageal stenosis surrounded by local recurrent tumor. After intubation, the patient was able to eat and was discharged. Although the patient died 5 months later, the tube was patent and functional until that time. Case two: A 63-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of coughing. Adenocarcinoma of the lung was diagnosed. The patient was treated with 3 cycles of chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, vindesine, and mifomycin C, which were followed by irradiation; and there was a partial response. Six months later he was admitted to the hospital because of dysphagia. An esophageal prosthesis was inserted because of esophageal stenosis surrounded by mediastinal lymph nodes. Although the patient was able to eat, bilateral pleuritis and mediastinitis developed and he died ten days after intubation. At autopsy the esophagus was found to have been perforated. Palliative intubation of an esophageal prosthesis can be effective in patients with esophageal stenosis due to lung cancer, but care must be taken to prevent fatal complications.