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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
Chest MRI or thoracic CT (usually used to help determine the stage of the disease)
Endoscopic ultrasound (also sometimes used to determine the stage of disease)
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and biopsy
PET scan (sometimes useful for determining the stage of disease, and whether surgery is possible)

Stool testing may show small amounts of blood in the stool.

Digestive system

Heartburn prevention

Reviewed last on: 1/31/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Das A. Tumors of the esophagus. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 46.

National Cancer Institute. Esophageal Cancer Treatment PDQ. Updated July 20, 2010.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. V2. 2010. Accessed January 22, 2011.

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