LASERENDOSCOPIC TREATMENT FOR GASTRIC CANCER

Abstract

We have treated early gastric cancer by endoscopical photocoagulation using MBB Medilas YAG laser, Aroka YML-801 YAG laser, Aroka LMY-1001 YAG laser and Spectra Physics model 770 Argon laser since December 1980, and evaluated the effects of laser therapy on gastric cancer. Thirty lesions in 25 patients with early gastric cancer were endoscopically photocoagulated and followed up. Cancer cells disappeared in 25 of 30 lesions, survived in two and recurred in three. We could reach a conclusion that laser photocoagulation for the protruded type of early gastric cancer is effective but is not so effective for the depressed type. We are attempting to improve the resolution of ultrasonic endoscope. Five layers of gastric wall can be visualized clinically by means of ultrasonic endoscope. The laser irradiated gastric wall was visualized as a hypersonic lesion by ultrasonic endoscope. So we can diagnose the depth of invasion of gastric cancer and identity the depth of the laser effects.