Intramuscular injection of mitomycin C combined with endoscopic dilation for benign esophageal strictures.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intramuscular injection of either mitomycin C or dexamethasone with endoscopic dilation for benign esophageal strictures after esophageal surgery or endoscopic submucosal dissection.


METHODS
Patients with benign esophageal strictures were retrospectively enrolled in this study and divided into three groups: mitomycin C group (mitomycin C injection with endoscopic dilation, dexamethasone group (dexamethasone injection and dilation) and dilation group (physiological saline injection and dilation). The patients' characteristics, locations of lesions, number of previous dilations, esophageal diameters after dilation, grades of dysphagia before and after the procedure and dysphagia-free period during the follow-up period were recorded.


RESULTS
Altogether 74 patients including 25 in the mitomycin C group, 25 in the dexamethasone group and 24 in the dilation group were enrolled. The diameter of the esophagus before the procedure was 3.32 ± 0.90 mm, 3.92 ± 1.55 mm and 3.70 ± 1.30 mm, respectively, while that was increased to 12.77 ± 1.62 mm, 12.14 ± 1.28 mm and 12.73 ± 1.42 mm after endoscopic dilation in the mitomycin C, dexamethasone and conventional dilation groups. The dysphagia-free period was 4.88 ± 1.66 months in the mitomycin C group, 4.02 ± 1.77 months in the dexamethasone group and 2.41 ± 1.26 months in the dilation group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSION
Intramuscular injection of mitomycin C or dexamethasone may prolong the dysphagia-free period and decrease the frequency of repeat dilations compared with conventional endoscopic dilations in patients with benign esophageal strictures.
['Zhang|Yin|Y|', 'Wang|Xiang|X|', 'Liu|Li|L|', 'Chen|Jian Ping|JP|', 'Fan|Zhi Ning|ZN|']
D000368:Aged D000477:Alkylating Agents D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents D003131:Combined Modality Therapy D003680:Deglutition Disorders D003907:Dexamethasone D004940:Esophageal Stenosis D004945:Esophagoscopy D004947:Esophagus D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007273:Injections, Intramuscular D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D016685:Mitomycin D016896:Treatment Outcome
mitomycin C endoscopic dilation benign esophageal stricture dexamethasone