The esophagus is the portion of the digestive system that connects the mouth to the stomach. When esophageal cells become damaged, either due to smoke, acid burns or other causes, it can cause the cells in the esophageal lining to grow abnormally, leading them to form small tumors.
Types
Esophageal cancer can come in the form of many cell types, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most common type of esophageal cancer is adenocarcinoma, which is derived from mucus-producing glands in the esophagus. Esophageal cancer can also come from squamous cells, which line the esophagus. Rarer types of esophageal cancer include lymphoma, melanoma, choriocarcinoma and sarcoma.
Risk Factors
There are certain things that can predispose a patient to developing esophageal cancer, according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Patients who smoke and drink heavy quantities of alcohol are more likely to develop squamous cell esophageal cancer. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, on the other hand, can be a result of Barrett's esophagus. Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which chronic acid reflux changes the cells in the esophagus.
Symptoms
Patients with esophageal cancer often have difficulty swallowing and may feel pain when they do swallow, according to the National Cancer Institute. Patients can also experience sudden weight loss, easy vomiting, pain in their chest, and chronic hoarseness. Esophageal cancer can also lead to bleeding into the esophagus and severe coughing when swallowing.
Diagnosis
There are three main techniques, according to the National Cancer Institute, which can be used to diagnose esophageal cancer. Patients may be given a solution of barium to drink, after which the patient will receive an X-ray. This allows the outline of the esophagus to appear on the X-ray and lets the physician look for any unusual masses. An endoscopy involves inserting a thin flexible camera down the patient's throat (through the mouth) in order to visualize the tissue in the esophagus. Finally, a biopsy may be performed to get a tissue sample in order to look at the cells under a microscope.
Treatment
One way that esophageal cancer can be treated is via surgical removal of the cancerous tissue. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, the surgery may involve the removal of small tumors, large sections of the esophagus, or the entire esophagus along with some of the stomach. Patients can also receive radiation treatments, which use high energy X-ray beams to kill the cancer cells. Sometimes the radiation comes from a machine that generates the X-rays, which is known as external beam therapy. Brachytherapy, on the other hand, involves placing a small piece of radioactive material very near the cancer. Radiation treatments are often combined with chemotherapy, which uses medications that poison cancer cells.
