The esophagus is a tube starting at the throat and ending at the stomach. Food and liquid that is swallowed travels through this tube to get to the stomach. Cancer that starts in this tube is called esophageal cancer, which was diagnosed in more than 16,000 individuals in the United States in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. Symptoms of esophageal cancer, such as trouble swallowing, chest pain and weight loss, do not typically appear until the cancer is advanced, but if cancer of the esophagus is suspected, various tests can be done to explore any abnormalities.
Imaging Tests
One imaging test that is used to help diagnose esophageal cancer is a barium swallow. In this test, barium liquid is ingested and coats the walls of the esophagus. On X-rays, the esophagus is outlined due to the barium and any abnormal areas of the organ can be seen. CT scans take pictures of the inside of the body similar to an X-ray, but they take cross-sectional images, so that a more detailed picture can be obtained. While this is not typically used in diagnosing esophageal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, a CT scan is helpful to ascertain how far the cancer has spread. An MRI also produces cross-sections of the body and can produce detailed pictures of the body's tissues and various diseases. With a PET scan, radioactive glucose is injected into the veins, and cancers pick up more of the radioactive material, showing bright spots on the PET scan. This test can see where cancerous areas are and how quickly the tumors are growing.
Endoscopy
An endoscope is a tube that has a video camera and light at the end of it. The endoscope can be inserted into the mouth and down the throat into the esophagus and stomach to look for any cancerous or suspicious areas. A tissue sample may also be taken to be sent to the lab for microscopic evaluation to check for cancer. An endoscopic ultrasound may be done; in this procedure, the endoscope has the ultrasound probe at the end of it. In this procedure, the ultrasound can pick up any tumors and how deep the cancer has invaded the esophagus. During a bronchoscopy, the endoscope can look at the trachea and bronchi to see if the cancer has spread to these organs.
Biopsy
A biopsy is when a piece of tissue or tumor is taken and is sent to a pathologist, who examines it for cancer cells. If cancer is found, tests are done to determine what kind of cancer cells are present. According to the National Cancer Institute, a biopsy for esophageal cancer is typically done during a esophagoscopy, which is when an endoscope is used to examine the inside of the esophagus.
