In the palliative management of malignant esophageal obstruction, which option provides rapid relief of obstruction and is commonly used as palliation?

• A. Feeding tube support
• B. Oncologic therapy
• C. Esophageal stenting
• D. Dilation

Answer: (C)

In palliative care for malignant esophageal obstruction, the priority is to relieve dysphagia quickly so the patient can eat and improve quality of life. Placing an esophageal stent achieves this by mechanically propping open the narrowed segment, often giving relief within hours and allowing oral intake soon after. This approach is minimally invasive, durable, and directly addresses the blockage, which is why it’s commonly used for palliation.

Feeding tube support, while it provides nutrition, doesn’t remove the obstruction or restore swallowing and may not rapidly improve the patient’s ability to intake food orally. Oncologic therapy can shrink the tumor, but it typically takes weeks to months to affect the obstruction, leaving symptoms unresolved in the short term. Dilation can temporarily widen the lumen, but the effect is often short-lived as the tumor progresses or re-narrows.