For esophageal stenosis after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer, treatment methods include endoscopic dilatation, placing rack, putting nutrient tube and so on, and patients should follow the doctor’s instruction for treatment.
Radiotherapy for esophageal cancer is to inhibit or kill rapidly growing cells, so many tumor cells will be necrotic in the process of treatment, and the body will grow fresh granulation tissue in the process of repairing trauma, which will lead to esophageal stenosis when the granulation tissue is fibrotic.
1. Endoscopic dilatation: Esophageal cancer itself will cause esophageal narrowing, inflammation, edema and scarring after radiotherapy will cause further narrowing of the esophagus, so the esophagus can be dilated endoscopically.
2. Placement of stent: If the esophagus becomes narrow again after endoscopic dilatation, a stent can be placed.
3. Nutritional tube: If the esophagus is already very narrow, a nasogastric tube or nasojejunal tube can be placed after dilatation of the esophagus for enteral nutritional support to avoid difficulties in treating esophageal restenosis.
Patients should follow the doctor’s instructions and should not blindly treat themselves to avoid delaying the condition or causing adverse reactions.