Better palliation of colorectal carcinoma with laser therapy.

For a number of years now, the Neodymium-YAG laser has been used to treat advanced obstructing or bleeding colorectal carcinomas. International results show significant improvement of symptoms in over 85% of patients treated and a complication rate of approximately 6%. Thirty patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma have been so treated at our institution. We achieved excellent control of symptoms, with no complications, and none of the patients required surgical intervention. We conclude that endoscopic laser therapy of colorectal carcinoma is a safe and effective modality for the palliation of symptoms of advanced disease.