Abstract
The purpose is to report how we have endoscopically treated gastrointestinal (GI) lesions with the aim of their radical cure in the period from May, 1981 to Sept., 1982, using a Molectron medical laser photocoagulator. Before the clinical application there had been made a histologic study on the effect of Nd-YAG laser upon the esophagus, the stomach, the colon, and the liver.
The materials comprised a case of esophageal polyp (one lesion), 2 of gastric polyp (5 lesions), 5 of gastric ATP (7), 9 of gastic cancer (15), 6 of rectal polyp (8), and one of rectal cancer (1), with a total of 24 cases or 37 lesions. It was clinically decided that the 15 cases exclusive of gastric cancer had no indication for polypectomy with a high frequency electric current. None of the gastric cancer cases were indicated for surgical operation because of either severe complications or of personal rejection of surgical treatments.
Repeated laser photoradiations through the fiberscope of an output of 60 to 80 watts with a duration of 0.5 to 0.8 seconds were given to each lesion, following an application of the Brilliant-Blue chromo-endoscopy exclusively to the upper GI lesions.
The therapy with a Nd-YAG laser was evaluated as safe and successful, though relapse was noted in 2 of the 15 gastric cancer lesions and additional photocoagulation was required.
