Laser Therapy Endoscopic-laser therapy (ELT) has been used over the past few years to relieve
swallowing problems. Lasers can vaporize the tumor and cut a hole through a blockage in the esophagus, although the hole will last only a few weeks to three months. The procedure can be repeated to keep the obstruction open, but repeated laser treatments may be more difficult.
Esophageal dilation with ELT can be used to reopen the food channel when surgery or radiation therapy are not practical or when treatment with mechanical methods (by balloon dilators or mercury-filled rubber dilators) fails. Esophageal rupture is a possible complication of dilation.
With laser therapy there are dangers of perforation, bleeding and fistula formation. Lasers can also treat tumors only inside the esophagus, not tumors outside the esophageal wall ( see Laser Therapy ).
