During a 12-year period, 77 consecutive patients with unresectable malignant stricture of the oesophagus or cardia were treated with a Celestin tube for relief of dysphagia of varying degree. Pull-through technique and gastrotomy were used for insertion of the tube in 72 patients, and endoscopy in five. One-third of the patients benefited from the operation, i.e. experienced good palliation and no serious complications. The mortality rate was 27%. The authors conclude that all patients with difficulty in swallowing saliva should be intubated, as good palliation was achieved in all such patients. When there is dysphagia for liquid food, insertion of a Celestin tube may be considered, but intubation should not be done when dysphagia is confined to solid foods.