Retrograde dilation of a complex radiation-induced esophageal stricture through percutaneous gastrostomy

Upper esophageal strictures occur in approximately 3-4% of pa- tients who receive radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. The standart initial treatment is dilation by using bougie or through- the-scope balloon dilators. Endoscopic treatment requires the pas- sage of a guidewire through the stricture which cannot be accom- plished in some of the patients with complex strictures. Retrograde dilation of esophageal strictures through a mature percutaneous gastrostomy tract have been reported in a limited number of cases and small case series up to date and can be considered as a rescue treatment before considering surgery in such patients. Herein we report retrograde dilatation of a radiation-induced complex esoph- ageal stricture through the percutaneous gastrostomy tract in a patient with operated larynx cancer. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2015, 78, 246-247).