Methods of palliation of esophageal and gastric cancer.

Esophageal and gastric malignancies are common worldwide. Less than half are amenable to curative treatment at the time of diagnosis because of advanced or metastatic disease. Palliation is often required for symptoms, such as dysphagia, gastrointestinal bleeding, aspiration caused by tracheoesophageal fistula, nausea and emesis secondary to gastric outlet obstruction, and malnutrition. This article reviews the gastric outlet obstruction, and malnutrition. This article reviews the medical, endoscopic, and surgical options for palliative treatment.