Laser palliation for colorectal carcinoma.

A review was conducted of 27 patients with colorectal carcinoma treated palliatively with endoscopic neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. There were 25 rectal carcinomas and 2 primary invasive sigmoid colon carcinomas. Of the 25 rectal carcinomas, there was 1 carcinoma in situ, 16 primary cancers, and 8 recurrent rectal carcinomas. The level of the lesions from the anal verge ranged from 0 to 25 cm, with a mean of 7.2 cm. The length of the lesions ranged from 1.5 to 8.5 cm, with a mean of 5 cm. The mean number of Nd:YAG laser treatments was three, with a range from one to nine. The duration of the treatments ranged from 30 to 90 minutes, with a mean of 40 minutes. Four of 27 patients (15%) developed complications. The success rate in terms of the relief of symptoms was established in 23 of the 27 patients.