Clinical evaluation of laser endoscopy for the treatment of gastric tumors.

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser therapy was performed through a gastroscope on 123 patients from 1980 to 1986. A complete cure with YAG laser therapy was obtained in patients with atypical epithelium of gastric mucosa and gastric polyps. Laser therapy (YAG) was very effective for the elevated type of early gastric cancer, and radical treatment can be expected for well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of less than 2 cm when tumor infiltration does not exceed the mucosa. YAG laser therapy for the depressed type of gastric cancer was not as effective and presents various problems. Argon-dye laser therapy, however, is more effective for the depressed type of gastric cancer. Endoscopic laser therapy is very effective, but it is necessary to be aware that lymph node metastases of gastric cancer have been found frequently, even in the early stage. Therefore, laser therapy must be performed under strict indications.