Treatment of oesophageal tumours – above a certain size, benign tumours require surgical treatment (e.g. enucleation).
Precancerous conditions and small, early-stage tumours can usually be treated with therapeutic endoscopic procedures: endoscopic removal of the lining, photodynamic therapy (light treatment after a photosensitising agent is given), or argon plasma or laser ablation of the lining.
Unfortunately, oesophageal tumours are usually discovered at a late stage. In such cases, surgical oesophagus-removal combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be needed.
If these can no longer achieve an adequate result, or are medically contraindicated, palliative (bridging) procedures may be considered (insertion of self-expanding metal stents, electrocautery tumour destruction, photodynamic or laser tumour destruction).
The aim of these procedures is to enable the patient, temporarily, to swallow and thus to be fed.
If these methods are ineffective, a so-called percutaneous endoscopic/ultrasound-guided gastrostomy (PEG or PSG) may be considered – a small tube placed in the stomach through which feeding can be provided.
