[Therapeutic effect of argon plasma coagulation on small malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract].

The use of argon plasma coagulation has proved to be an effective method of non-contact electrocoagulation with high efficiency in palliative treatment of gastrointestinal lesions. In this study there were 10 patients suffering from small oesophageal malignant tumors; in 5 patients no further tumor could be detected in biopsies during a period up to 34 months, in the other cases passage could kept open. These results suggest this treatment as an alternative therapy in selected patients.