Diagnosis of Esophagus Cancer
Diagnostic Test list for Esophagus Cancer:
The list of medical tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Esophagus Cancer
includes:
Esophagus Cancer Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Tests and diagnosis discussion for Esophagus Cancer:
What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Esophagus: NCI (Excerpt)
To help find the cause of symptoms, the doctor evaluates a
person's medical history and performs a physical exam. The
doctor usually orders a chest x-ray
and other diagnostic tests. These tests may include the
following:
-
A barium swallow (also called an esophagram )
is a series of x-rays of the esophagus. The patient drinks a
liquid containing barium, which coats the inside of the
esophagus. The barium makes any changes in the shape of the
esophagus show up on the x-rays.
-
Esophagoscopy (also called endoscopy )
is an examination of the inside of the esophagus using a
thin lighted tube called an endoscope .
An anesthetic (substance that causes loss of feeling or
awareness) is usually used during this procedure. If an
abnormal area is found, the doctor can collect cells and
tissue through the endoscope for examination under a
microscope. This is called a biopsy .
A biopsy can show cancer, tissue changes that may lead to
cancer, or other conditions.
(Source: excerpt from
What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Esophagus: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Esophagus: NCI (Excerpt)
Some tests used to determine whether the cancer has spread
include:
-
CAT
(or CT) scan (computed tomography). A computer
linked to an x-ray machine creates a series of detailed
pictures of areas inside the body.
-
Bone scan. This technique, which creates images of
bones on a computer screen or on film, can show whether
cancer has spread to the bones. A small amount of
radioactive substance is injected into a vein; it travels
through the bloodstream, and collects in the bones,
especially in areas of abnormal bone growth. An instrument
called a scanner measures the radioactivity levels in these
areas.
-
Bronchoscopy. The doctor puts a bronchoscope
(a thin, lighted tube) into the mouth or nose and down
through the windpipe to look into the breathing passages.
(Source: excerpt from
What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Esophagus: NCI)
Diagnosis of Esophagus Cancer: medical news summaries:
The following medical news items
are relevant to diagnosis and misdiagnosis issues for Esophagus Cancer:
Diagnostic Tests for Esophagus Cancer: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about diagnostis of Esophagus Cancer.
REGURGITATION, ESOPHAGEAL:
Ask the Following Questions:
(Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
- Is there dysphagia? The presence of difficulty swallowing should suggest carcinoma of the esophagus, esophageal strictures, esophageal diverticulum, achalasia, aortic aneurysm, and other mediastinal masses.
- Is there significant weight loss? The presence of significant weight loss suggests carcinoma of the esophagus and esophageal stricture. It is also found in the late stages of achalasia.
- Is there heartburn? Several of the conditions associated with esophageal regurgitation may be accompanied by heartburn, but reflux esophagitis and gastric ulcer are the most common.
DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
Most disorders will be diagnosed by an upper GI series with an esophagogram and esophagoscopy with a biopsy. A Bernstein test, esophageal pH monitoring, and esophageal manometry may be useful in diagnosing reflux esophagitis. A CBC, serum iron, ferritin, and iron-binding capacity will help diagnose Plummer-Vinson syndrome. An ANA titer and skin biopsy will help diagnose scleroderma. A CT scan of the mediastinum will help diagnose most mediastinal masses, and angiography will be useful in diagnosing an aortic aneurysm.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, 2003
Introduction: Malignant Neoplasms:
Diagnostic methods
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
A thorough medical history and physical examination should precede sophisticated diagnostic procedures. Useful tests for the early detection and staging of tumors include X-ray, endoscopy, isotope scan, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging, but the single most important diagnostic tool is a biopsy for direct histologic study of tumor tissue. Biopsy tissue samples can be taken by curettage, fluid aspiration (pleural effusion), fine-needle aspiration biopsy (breast), dermal punch (skin or mouth), endoscopy (rectal polyps), and surgical excision (visceral tumors and nodes).
An important tumor marker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), although not diagnostic by itself, can signal malignancies of the large bowel, stomach, pancreas, lungs, and breasts. CEA titers range from normal (less than 5 ng) to suspicious (5 to 10 ng) to suspect (over 10 ng). CEA serves many valuable purposes:
❑as a baseline during chemotherapy to evaluate the extent of tumor spread
❑to regulate drug dosage
❑to prognosticate after surgery or radiation
❑to detect tumor recurrence.
Although no more specific than CEA, alpha-fetoprotein — a fetal antigen uncommon in adults — can suggest testicular, ovarian, gastric, and hepatocellular cancers. Beta human chorionic gonadotropin may point to testicular cancer or choriocarcinoma. Other commonly used tumor markers include prostate-specific antigen to detect and monitor prostatic cancer, and CA-125, useful for monitoring ovarian, colorectal, and gastric cancers.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Laryngeal cancer:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Any hoarseness that lasts longer than 2 weeks requires visualization of the larynx by laryngoscopy. (See Staging laryngeal cancer, pages 66 and 67.)
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS Firm diagnosis also requires xeroradiography, biopsy, laryngeal tomography, computed tomography scan, or laryngography to define the borders of the lesion and chest X-ray to detect metastasis.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal cancer:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
X-rays of the esophagus, with barium swallow and motility studies, reveal structural and filling defects and reduced peristalsis.
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS Endoscopic examination of the esophagus (esophagogastroduodenoscopy), punch and brush biopsies, and exfoliative cytologic tests confirm esophageal tumors. Usually, magnetic resonance imagining of the chest and thoracic computed tomography are helpful in determining disease staging. Positron emission tomography is useful in determining disease staging and whether surgery is possible.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant spinal neoplasms:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
❑Spinal and lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging confirm spinal tumor.
❑ X-rays show distortions of the intervertebral foramina; changes in the vertebrae or collapsed areas in the vertebral body; and localized enlargement of the spinal canal, indicating an adjacent block.
❑ Myelography identifies the level of the lesion by outlining it if the tumor is causing partial obstruction; it shows anatomic relationship to the cord and the dura. If obstruction is complete, the injected dye can't flow past the tumor. (This study is dangerous if cord compression is nearly complete because withdrawal or escape of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will allow the tumor to exert greater pressure against the cord.)
❑ Radioisotope bone scan demonstrates metastatic invasion of the vertebrae by showing a characteristic increase in osteoblastic activity.
❑ Computed tomography scan shows cord compression and tumor location.
❑ Frozen section biopsy at surgery identifies the tissue type.
❑ Lumbar puncture may be normal, abnormal, or nonspecific. It may show clear yellow CSF as a result of increased protein levels if the flow is completely blocked. If the flow is partially blocked, protein levels rise, but the fluid is only slightly yellow in proportion to the CSF protein level. Cytology of the CSF may show malignant cells of metastatic carcinoma.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal diverticula:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
CONFIRMING DIAGNOSIS X-rays taken following a barium swallow usually confirm the diagnosis by showing characteristic outpouching.
Esophagoscopy can rule out another lesion; however, the procedure risks rupturing the diverticulum by passing the scope into it rather than into the lumen of the esophagus, a special danger with Zenker’s diverticulum.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Laryngeal cancer:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
Any hoarseness that lasts longer than 2 weeks requires visualization of the larynx by laryngoscopy.
A firm diagnosis also requires xeroradiography, a biopsy, laryngeal tomography, computed tomography scan, or laryngography to define the borders of the lesion, and a chest X-ray to detect metastasis.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal cancer:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
X-rays of the esophagus, with barium swallow and motility studies, reveal structural and filling defects and reduced peristalsis. Endoscopic examination of the esophagus, punch and brush biopsies, and an exfoliative cytologic tests confirm esophageal tumors.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal diverticula:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
A barium esophagogram usually confirms the diagnosis by showing characteristic outpouching. Esophagoscopy isn’t performed because the scope may be passed into the diverticulum and can cause a rupture.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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