Palliative therapy for esophageal cancer: laser therapy alone is associated with a better functional outcome.

The aim of our study was to compare functional outcome and survival in patients who underwent laser therapy (LT) or laser therapy and esophageal stenting (LTES) to palliate inoperable esophageal cancer. Two hundred and twenty-seven consecutive patients who had endoscopic palliation for esophageal cancer were enrolled in this retrospective study. One hundred and sixty-four underwent LT alone and 63 had LTES.