Esophageal cancer screening methods

Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
Updated on September 11, 2024
00:00
00:00

The best and clearest method for screening esophageal cancer is still gastroscopy, which can also be referred to as esophagoscopy. Endoscopic examination is very significant for this type of luminal tumor. Of course, if some people truly cannot tolerate a gastroscopic exam, they might consider initially undergoing a barium meal for the esophagus or iodized oil radiography for diagnosis. Additionally, a chest CT scan can be performed to determine whether there is narrowing in the esophageal lumen or if there is metastasis in the surrounding lymph nodes, among other issues. However, the best and most important method is certainly the esophagoscopy, or taking a biopsy of the pathological tissue under gastroscopy, which is very important for the definitive diagnosis of esophageal cancer.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
46sec home-news-image

How long can one live with esophageal cancer?

The life expectancy of esophageal cancer patients depends on several factors such as the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, the patient's sensitivity to treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the effectiveness of these treatments, the patient's general condition, and whether they have other underlying diseases. Patients who can undergo radical surgery, especially those diagnosed at an early stage, generally have a better prognosis. Patients who respond well to treatment can also expect a better outcome. Therefore, there is significant individual variation in prognosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
46sec home-news-image

What should I do about esophageal cancer?

Currently, effective treatments for esophageal cancer include surgical treatment, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Integrated treatment with surgery as the main approach is the primary method for treating esophageal cancer. This may include preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery, preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery, preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery, or direct surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. These are all major treatment methods for esophageal cancer. However, the choice of a personalized integrated treatment should be based on factors such as the stage of the disease, the location of the lesion, age, and physical condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
43sec home-news-image

What are the precancerous lesions of esophageal cancer?

The most common precancerous lesion of esophageal cancer is Barret's esophagus, which is formed by the chronic stimulation of the esophageal epithelium by chronic reflux esophagitis. Of course, this includes some chronic esophageal ulcers and long-term leukoplakia of the esophagus. These recurrent esophageal ulcers could potentially transform into atypical hyperplasia and then further into carcinoma in situ. However, the progression from precancerous lesions to actual cancer can take a very long time, possibly many years or even over a decade. Therefore, having a precancerous lesion does not necessarily lead to esophageal cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
58sec home-news-image

What are the early signs of esophageal cancer?

The early symptoms of esophageal cancer are often nonspecific and intermittent, thus many patients do not take them seriously and delay the condition. Clinically, common early symptoms of esophageal cancer include a choking sensation when swallowing food, which is more noticeable in patients who swallow dry food or other foods that are not well chewed in large bites. Additionally, there is discomfort or a feeling of fullness behind the sternum. Thirdly, there is a sensation of a foreign body in the esophagus, with about 20% of patients experiencing this sensation when swallowing, as well as dryness and a feeling of tightness in the throat. Furthermore, there is a slow passage and a sense of retention of food.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Peng Li Bo
Oncology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Esophageal cancer T3 belongs to which stage?

For the staging of esophageal cancer, it not only depends on the T stage, but also on the N and M stages. If we are just considering the T stage, it is T3. If there are no N0 and M0 stages, it is relatively early and surgery can be considered. However, if looking only at T3 and the N stage involves lymph node involvement (N1, N2, or N3), with regional or distant lymph node metastasis, then the staging of the esophageal cancer is relatively late. Furthermore, if there is an M stage, which indicates the presence of distant organ metastasis, then it is classified as advanced stage. Therefore, the T stage alone for esophageal cancer does not determine whether it is early, intermediate, or late stage. It is necessary to look in conjunction with the N and M stages to determine the overall staging.