Endoscopic treatment of benign esophageal strictures: Advances and challenges

Abstract

Benign esophageal stricture is characterized by the narrowing of the digestive tract lumen due to multiple factors. Endoscopic treatment is the first treatment choice and includes endoscopic dilatation, drug injection, stenosis incision, stent implantation, stem cell flap transplantation, etc. However, there are currently no specific clinical standards or guidelines to quantify a series of specific parameters in the treatment of benign esophageal stricture, such as the frequency of drug administration, dosage, dilation inner diameter, and number of treatments. This leads to operator bias in clinical practice and inconsistent treatment outcomes among patients. Therefore, this article reviews the current advances and existing challenges in the endoscopic treatment of benign esophageal stricture, with the aim of exploring the possibility of achieving precision and standardization in the endoscopic treatment of this disease.

Keywords: Benign esophageal strictures; Esophageal stricture; Oesophageal strictures; Endoscopic treatment; Endoluminal functional luminal imaging probe; Advances and challenges

Core Tip: Endoscopic treatment is the first-line approach for benign esophageal strictures, including dilation, medication, incision, and stenting. However, the lack of standardized protocols (e.g., drug dosage, dilation parameters) leads to inconsistent outcomes. Future advancements should integrate precision assessment tools like endoluminal functional luminal imaging probe to standardize treatment, reduce operator bias, and optimize individualized strategies.