BACKGROUND/AIM OF STUDY: Laser therapy is effective in relieving @entity5 , but repeated treatments at 4 to 6 week intervals are usually required. This prospective randomised trial is designed to determine if addition of brachytherapy offers any advantages over laser therapy alone. METHODS: @entity1 with inoperable @entity189 were randomised to receive either endoscopic Nd:YAG laser therapy alone, or laser followed by brachytherapy. @entity1 who developed worsening @entity1282 during follow-up were offered further treatment as appropriate. RESULTS: Fourteen @entity1 were randomised to receive laser only, and 12 to receive laser followed by brachytherapy. Of these 12, one was lost to follow-up and four did not receive brachytherapy because they were unfit, had extension into the @entity418 or had mainly extrinsic compression. These 4 are included on an 'intention-to-treat' basis. The mean therapeutic interval for the brachytherapy group was significantly longer, 83 days compared to 36 days for the laser group (p = 0.026). There were no differences in the degree of @entity1282 relief, number of endoscopic procedures or survival times. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of this trial suggest that brachytherapy in addition to laser therapy prolongs the first therapeutic interval. However, no long-term advantages have been shown.

Laser therapy combined with brachytherapy for the palliation of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['malignant dysphagia'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['carcinoma of the oesophagus'] @entity418 :: ('MESH:D004938', 'Disease') :: ['cardia'] @entity1282 :: ('MESH:D003680', 'Disease') :: ['dysphagia']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['malignant dysphagia']
