Esophageal balloon dilatation: a follow-up study in 74 patients.

Balloon esophageal dilation was performed in 74 patients, 60 of whom had malignant neoplasia of the esophagus, 11 had benign esophageal stenoses, and 3 had esophageal stenoses caused by nonesophageal cancer. Sixteen patients underwent preoperative balloon dilations and 15 were able to swallow until surgery. In 49 patients receiving palliative treatment for esophageal cancer, balloon dilatation allowed 40 (82%) to swallow until near death. We experienced one esophageal rupture.