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Esophageal cancer - Symptom

Alternative Names

Cancer - esophagus

Symptoms:

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

Signs 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.

Digestive system

Heartburn prevention

Reviewed last on: 7/22/2008
A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (4/8/2008).

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; chap 77.

Esophageal Cancer. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2008. Accessed July 22, 2008.

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