Esophageal cancer
Alternative Names
Cancer - esophagusSymptoms
- Backwards movement of food through the esophagus and possibly mouth (regurgitation)
- Chest pain unrelated to eating
- Difficulty swallowing solids or liquids
- Heartburn
- Vomiting blood
- Weight loss
Exams and Tests
Tests used to help diagnose esophageal cancer may include:
- Barium swallow
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and biopsy
- Chest MRI or thoracic CT (usually used for helping to determine the stage of the disease)
- PET scan (sometimes useful for determining the stage of disease, and whether surgery is possible)
Stool sample testing may show signs of hidden (occult) blood in the stool.
References
Kleinberg LR, Forastier AA, Heitmiller RF. Cancer of the esophagus. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG, eds. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004; chapt 77.
Esophageal Cancer. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (Version 1.2008). Copyright 2008 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc.
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