To objectively assess the difficulty in the procedures of corrosive esophageal strictures, the success rates. the number of sessions and balloon dilatation and compllications were evaluated in 66 patents with esophageal strictures who underwent balloon dilatation. These patients were grouped into three according tho the causes and corrosive esophageal strictures (n=24), non-corrosive benign strictures (n=22) and malignant structures (n=22) Success rates were 29% in corrosive esophageal strictures, 86% in noncorrosive benign strictures, and 85% in malignant structures. Required average number of sessions and balloon diations were 3.4 and 7.4 in corrosive strictures and 1.4 and 2 in noncorrosive benign and malignant strictures. respectively. Esophageal rupture occured in 33% of corrosive strictures, 4% of each noncorrosive benign and malignant strictures. Pain in corrosive esophageal strictures was severest. In conclusion, balloon dilatation in corrosive strictures has low success rate and high complication rate and requires more frequent dilation, which implies that it is more difficult than other strictures.