[Use of argon plasma coagulation in advanced cancers of the upper digestive tract]

Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2004 Jul;112(1):837-43.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Endoscopy being a diagnostic tool, allows also a nonsurgical treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract neoplasms, even at their advanced stage. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a contact-free method of monopolar coagulation, based primarily on the effects of high frequency electrical current flow in the ionized argon. The study used in 14 patients, aged 56-85 years, with advanced carcinoma of oesophagus and/or cardia. Carcinoma was diagnosed upon the results of endoscopic and microscopic examinations. The following parameters were included in the analysis: electrical current power, number of treatment sessions, stage of dysphagia, oesophagus passage, localization and type of a tumor. The analysis revealed that APC is a highly effective as well as safe method of palliative treatment of advanced oesophageal and/or cardiac cancers. Moreover, it was noted that APC is more effective in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Argon / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Cardia / surgery*
  • Electrocoagulation / methods*
  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / methods*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stomach Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Argon