Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of various malignancies, the management of esophageal cancer remains one of the least responsive malignancies, Unfortunately complete excision of the tumor is impossible, because expandable anatomic structures are involved early when the diagnosis is made. (continue...)
Diagnosis ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagus

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and limitations of double contrast esophagography in patients with superficial esophageal cancer, as compared with endoscopic, gross and microscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 43 patients with pathologically proven superficial esophageal cancer, the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy of double contrast esophagography and endoscopy were compared. The depth of invasion revealed by esophagography, and grossly and microscopically in resected specimens, was compared. RESULTS: The detection rate and diagnostic accuracy were, respectively, 86.0% and 76.7% for esophagography, and 100% and 95.3% for endoscopy. In addition, very different detection rates (54.6% and 100%, respectively) were noted for epithelial and mucosal lesions. In flat-type cases (0-IIb), esophagography showed limited ability to detect lesions, but the accuracy of this modality in predicting the depth of tumor invasion was relatively high (94.6%). CONCLUSION: In cases of superficial esophageal cancer, double contrast esophagography showed a lower detection rate and lower diagnostic accuracy than endoscopy, and this was especially so for epithelial and mucosal lesions. The modality was able, however, to reliably predict the depth of tumor invasion.
Diagnosis* ; Endoscopy* ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans

Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; Carcinosarcoma ; diagnosis ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans

Based on CT features of 45 patients (42 males, 3 females) with esophageal carcinoma at Viet Duc hospital from August 2003 to August 2004. Comparison between CT features and operation findings showed that 53.3% of lesions were at the middle and 35.6% were at the lower third of the esophageal. Esophageal wall thicken lesions more than 10 mm, homogenously structures and highly contrast enhancement were the common CT findings in these patients. Otherwise, helical CT Scan could be effective in detection of tracheo-bronchial, aortic, pleural and pericardial infiltration. CT could play an important role in lesion stages and therefore, provide important signs to determine surgical planning.
Esophageal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed

For a long time, the diagnosis and treatment protocol for esophageal cancer has been made either entirely based on the experience of Western countries or on our own experience alone. A suitable standardized guideline for diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer in our country has not been established until 2010. Due to lack of opportunities for mutual exchange and learning, the overall level of standardized diagnosis and treatment was relatively low in China. In addition, less advanced technologies were applied and varying treatment protocols were implemented in different districts, the treatment results has been unsatisfactory, and the overall 5-year survival rate after surgical treatment has been maintained from 30% to 40%. Therefore, it is imperative that China needs to conduct its own clinical studies and establish its own suitable standardized treatment and diagnosis guideline for esophageal cancer. This article reviews and also made comments on the process of academic speaking tour and development of standardized diagnosis and treatment guidelines as well as the problems resolved by these activities for esophageal cancer since the beginning of this century.
China ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Autofluorescence has great advantage on detecting premalignant lesions and early cancers which are not detectable by conventional white light endoscopy (WLE). In this review, the recent advances in autofluorescence for diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early cancers are presented. Varieties of endogenous fluorophores in biological tissues, the potential mechanisms of the autofluorescence differences between normal and abnormal tissues, the selection of light source and optimal excitation wavelengths, and effective algorithms for processing autofluorescence data are highlighted. Finally, the shortages and improvement directions of autofluorescence technique for the diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early cancers are briefly discussed.
Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Fluorescence ; Humans

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery

Adult ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; diagnosis

Adenoma ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Adult ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology