Esophageal strictures: Management beyond dilation

Table 5 Characteristics of the studies that evaluated the effect of intralesional steroid in treatment naïve esophageal strictures

Ref.	Study type and number of patients	Etiology of stricture	Dilator used	Steroid application	Outcome
Miyashita et al[24], 1997	Case series, n = 11	Anastomotic: 11	Balloon	2 mg dexamethasone into each quadrant (post-dilation). After dilation. Unclear repeating schedule	The mean number of dilations decreases significantly after steroid injection (1.1 vs 4.7, P < 0.05)
Orive-Calzada et al[25], 2012	Case series, n = 9	Anastomotic: 2; corrosive: 4; peptic: 3	NA	NA	No difference in mean number of dilations after steroid injection (3.33 vs 3, P = 0.673)
Hirdes et al[21], 2013	RCT, n = 29 in steroid arm	Anastomotic: 29	Bougie	20 mg triamcinolone into each quadrant (pre-dilation). Repeated up to 3 times	The number of patients dysphagia-free at 6 months was not different in the steroid and control group (45% vs 36%, P = 0.46)
Pereira-Lima et al[22], 2015	RCT, n = 10 (steroid arm)	Anastomotic: 10	Bougie	NA	The number of patients dysphagia-free at 6 months was higher in the steroid arm than the control group (62% vs 0%, P = 0.009)
Altintas et al[26], 2004	RCT, n = 10 (steroid arm)	Anastomotic: 1; corrosive: 2; peptic 6; radiation: 1	Bougie	8 mg triamcinolone into each quadrant (post-dilation). Only the first time	Mean periodic dilation index decreases significantly after steroid injection (0.193 vs 0.597, P < 0.05)

NA: Not available; RCT: Randomised controlled trial.