A thermal-shaped memory metal stent, which is made of Nitinal, used in 95 patients with malignant tumors and 35 patients with anastomosis stenosis tumor resection. All patients had no opportunities of surgical operation and no response to dilation radiotherapy, chemotherapy, lasertherapy and traditional Chinese medicine. Dysphagia ameliorated in all patients after stent therapy. The mean dysphagia grade varied from 3.71 +/- 0.45(range 3-4) to 1.08 +/- 0.59 (range 0-2)(P < 0.01). Complications occurred in 49 patients (31.5%), including chest pain in 36, local bleeding in 5, tumor overgrowth in 4, stent migration in 2, and food obstraction in 2. In summary, treatment with placement of a Nitinol stent is effective, safe and simple in our patients with dysphagia which were due to malignant esophageal and cardiac strictures and is feasible for some benign esophageal and cardiac strictures as well through our clinical practice and observation nearly three years.