Over a 5-year period, fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatations were performed to treat dysphagia comming from esophageal strictures in 100 patients. The causes of strictures(51 cases) were caustic ingestion in 28 patients, achalasia in 6, postoperative stricture in 15, reflux esophagitis in 2 and gastroesophageal neoplasms in 49. After the procedure, successful dilatation was achieved in 92 patients(92%). Esophageal rupture occurred in 9 patients(9%). Six of 9 ruptured patients were treated nonoperatively by means of fasting, antibiotics and parenteral alimenatation, while three underwent surgery. No procedure-related deaths were identified in this series. We found that fluoroscopically guided esophageal balloon dilatation in postoperative strictures is a easy, safe and effective treatment. The procedure is effective in corrosive strictures, but it requires extracaution because of high rutpure rates. We also found a transient benification effect in malignant esophageal stricture.