Laser and photodynamic therapy of esophageal cancer.

With proper selection of patients with non-operative esophageal cancer, palliative therapy with Nd:YAG laser enhances the quality of life by improving the patient's ability to swallow soft or solid food. Also, the use of non-thermal laser light to initiate the process of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an additional laser technique that appears effective, not just in palliative treatment, but also in the cure of early esophageal cancer. For PDT, considerable work will be necessary to provide standard techniques in tumor staging, light and drug delivery and in light dosimetry. Ultimately, palliative and curative therapy of esophageal cancer will most likely incorporate multiple modalities, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, stents, laser and other thermal modalities, photodynamic therapy, and combinations of these methods.