Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor of the esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach.
Causes
Obstetrics and gynecology includes womens reproductive health and pre-natal care, labor and post natal care.
- Squamous cell esophageal cancer is associated with smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Barretts esophagus, a complication of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
- Risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus include male gender, obesity, poor nutrition, and smoking.
Symptoms
- Backwards movement of food through the esophagus and possibly mouth
- 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
Treatment
- When esophageal cancer is only in the esophagus and has not spread elsewhere, surgery is the treatment of choice. The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer.
- If the patient cannot tolerate surgery or the cancer has spread to other organs, chemotherapy or radiation may be used to help reduce symptoms.
When to Contact us
If you have difficulty swallowing with no known cause and it does not get better.
Prevention:
- Avoid smoking
- Limit or eliminate alcoholic drinks
- People with symptoms of severe reflux should seek medical attention.
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