A malignant tumor arising from the esophagus is called esophageal cancer. It can occur any where in the esophagus from the origin in throat to the stomach. More commonly occurs in Men than in Women.
Alteration in the cellular makeup in the esophageal cells causing mutations leading to rapid growth of the tissue forming a tumor.
Esophageal cancer remain silent without any symptoms as such until it grows larger to make difficult to pass food through it. However, following symptoms demand immediate consultation with the doctor for further investigation for diagnosis of esophagus cancer:
Depending on the symptoms with which a patient presents to the clinician the following tests may be done
Surgery for esophageal cancer involves the removal of the entire esophagus along with the
removal of surrounding lymph node tissue. It May be done using
Laparoscope/Thoracoscope(Key-hole surgery) or in Open conventional methods.
If Surgery is not feasible a stent can be placed across the block which allows the patient to
take food.
Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy will be given before or after the surgery depending on the stage
of the cancer and patient status.
Targeted therapy, and photodynamic therapy can be considered in few subset of patients
depending on the clinical subset.