Endobronchial stenting as a palliation for advanced esophageal cancer.

Three cases of airway invasion of esophageal cancer treated palliatively by endobronchial stenting are reported. In case 1 (a 60-year-old male) expandable metallic stents were inserted into the totally occluded left main bronchus. In case 2 (a 45-year-old male) a Dumon stent was inserted into the totally occluded left main bronchus. Both patients recovered from performance status 4 to performance status 1 or 0 and were in good condition before they died of cancer, 150 and 54 days after stenting in cases 1 and 2, respectively. In case 3, a Dumon stent was inserted into the left main bronchus before total occlusion. The patient recovered from performance status 3 or 2 to performance status 1 or 0 and survived 40 days after stenting with no signs of airway obstruction. Endobronchial stenting is a useful palliation for keeping the performance status at a good level in patients with esophageal cancer obstructing or narrowing the main airway.