HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME Test (opens in a new window) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Therasse, E. Articles by Soulez, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Therasse, E. Articles by Soulez, G. Related Collections Vascular and/or Interventional Radiology Gastrointestinal Radiology

Balloon Dilation and Stent Placement for Esophageal Lesions: Indications, Methods, and Results¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (E.T., V.L.O., P.P., M.F.G., G.S.) and Surgery (E.L.), Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), 3840 St Urbain St, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1T8. Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for an education exhibit at the 2001 RSNA scientific assembly. Received March 8, 2002; revision requested April 25 and received May 24; accepted May 28. Address correspondence to E.T. (e-mail: eric.therasse.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca).

Esophageal balloon dilation and expandable stent placement are safe, minimally invasive, effective treatments for esophageal strictures and fistulas. These procedures have brought the management of dysphagia due to esophageal strictures into the field of interventional radiology. Esophageal dilation is usually indicated for benign stenoses and is technically successful in more than 90% of cases. Most patients with esophageal carcinoma are not candidates for resection; thus, the main focus of treatment is palliation of malignant dysphagia and esophagorespiratory fistulas. Esophageal stent placement, which is approved only for malignant strictures, is one of the main therapeutic options in affected patients and relieves dysphagia in approximately 90% of cases. Dedicated commercially available devices continue to evolve, each with its own advantages and limitations. Stent placement is subject to technical pitfalls, and adverse events occur following esophageal procedures in a minority of cases. Although chest pain is common and self-limited, reflux esophagitis, stent migration, tracheal compression, and esophageal perforation and obstruction require specific interventions. In many cases, these complications can be recognized and treated by the interventional radiologist with minimally invasive techniques.

© RSNA, 2003

Index Terms: Esophagus, diseases, 71.291, 71.321, 71.33 • Esophagus, grafts and prostheses, 71.1269 • Esophagus, interventional procedures, 71.1269 • Esophagus, neoplasms, 71.30 • Esophagus, stenosis or obstruction, 71.74 • Stents and prostheses, 71.1269

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. S. Anderson, M. S. Levine, S. E. Rubesin, I. Laufer, G. G. Ginsberg, and M. L. Kochman Esophageal stents: findings on esophagography in 46 patients. Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2006; 187(5): 1274 - 1279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. B. Hunter, M. S. Taljanovic, P. H. Tsau, W. G. Berger, and J. R. Standen Medical Devices of the Chest RadioGraphics, November 1, 2004; 24(6): 1725 - 1746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]