Esophageal Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

Esophageal cancer diagnosis helps to identify and examine cancerous growth that develops in the esophagus. Esophageal cancer detection techniques help to trace tumors early and give the victim an advantage of fair esophageal cancer survival rate. Cancer of esophagus is highly fatal and has very low life expectancy as compared to other forms of cancers.

Meaning of Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis

Cancer of esophagus affects the prime route of passage of food from mouth to stomach. Consequences of tumor-growth in esophageal areas can be very severe and directly affect normal eating habits of the victim. The cancer has an ability to metastasize in late stages and can cause irreversible damage to vital organs like neck, throat, lymph nodes, stomach, lungs, and abdominal areas. Formation of tumors can be of benign nature initially but, may soon turn cancerous.

Esophageal cancer can also be of either primary or secondary type. Primary development of cancer of esophagus is a kind of malignant growth initiating in the esophageal tissues and then spread to other areas nearby. Secondary esophageal tumor-formation is a complicated condition wherein the tumor-cells have their origin in some other organs of the body and reach esophagus only when they begin to metastasize. It is a more severe condition as compared to primary one and the tumors metastasize at a very high pace.

Esophageal cancer diagnosis is a way to confirm cancerous growth in esophagus or nearby areas and understand proper pattern of tumor development. It is also helpful to know prognosis of the disease with respect to victim and is plays a decisive role in knowing approximate chances of survival. Esophageal cancer detection is also helpful to know esophageal cancer stage the victim is suffering from so that apt pattern of esophageal cancer treatment can be initiated. Esophageal diagnosis techniques are executed in more intense manner for secondary form of malignant growth as compared to primary one.

Aspects of Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis

Esophageal cancer is caused due to a variety of factors and is detected mostly in adults. Thus, age, lifestyle pattern, diet habits, and personal medical history are some of the most basic aspects considered before diagnosis. Cancer of esophagus occurs primarily in people above 50 years and is more common in men. Habits like smoking, eating food high in alkali and acid content, chewing tobacco, drinking too hot beverages leading to irritations or injuries in esophageal areas, and consuming alcohol are some basic esophageal cancer causes. Major esophageal cancer symptoms include formation of lump or raised mass in esophagus, esophageal ulcers or inflammations that do not cure by usual medications, pains during swallowing food, regurgitation, and unusual loss of appetite or weight.

Personal history of esophageal or other cancers, mainly in head and neck areas, can also pose threat to victim and create complications in efficient esophageal cancer detection. Family history of cancer is also considered while undergoing diagnosis for the disorder.

Major Esophageal Diagnosis Techniques

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, partial or full biopsy, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, PET (Positron Emission Tomography) test, endoscopy, and X-rays are some of the prime diagnosis methods for the disorder. Some may also go for barium swallow test, ultrasound, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, lymph node biopsy, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

Esophageal cancer diagnosis should be in close coordination with the kind and pattern of symptoms detected in the victims and root cause for cancerous growth should be traced. Undergoing diagnosis in initial stages is very necessary for high chances of survival of the victim. Efficient and timely esophageal cancer detection can even alter life expectancy rate on a positive side and minimize sufferings of the victim.