gastrointestinal disorders
Esophageal Cancer
Diagnosis of Esophageal Cancer
Endoscopy with biopsy Abdominal and pelvic CT for staging PET-CT and endoscopic ultrasonography to complete staging There are no screening tests. Patients suspected of having esophageal cancer should have endoscopy with cytology and biopsy. Although barium x-ray may show an obstructive lesion, endoscopy is required for biopsy and tissue diagnosis. Microsatellite instability (MSI) testing of the biopsy is now standard. Patients in whom esophageal cancer is identified require CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis as well as whole-body Positron Emission Tomography (PET) (PET)-CT to determine extent of tumor spread. If cross-sectional imaging results are negative for metastasis, endoscopic ultrasonography should be done to determine the depth of the tumor in the esophageal wall and regional lymph node involvement. Findings guide therapy and help determine prognosis. Basic blood tests, including complete blood count, electrolytes, and liver function, should be done. 