Postoperative examination for esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a disease that has a great impact on the patient's life. Patients with advanced esophageal cancer will suffer serious damage to their quality of life due to severe eating difficulties. As the tumor grows and metastasizes to other parts of the body, the patient may also experience symptoms in other parts of the body. The following is an introduction to the content of the follow-up examination after esophageal cancer surgery.

1. Patients whose pathology reports show dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia: Dysplasia and intestinal metaplasia are closely related to cancer and should be taken seriously and reviewed regularly.

2. Patients after surgery for benign esophageal diseases: Generally, residual esophageal cancer may occur more than 5 years after surgery, and most residual esophageal cancers occur about 20 years after surgery. During follow-up examinations after esophageal cancer surgery, it is best to perform a biopsy at the anastomosis to prevent the misdiagnosis of small early residual esophageal cancers. It is best to have a follow-up examination once a year, and you can have a check-up in time if you feel unwell.

3. Patients with esophageal ulcers: Duodenal ulcers generally do not become cancerous, but a small number of gastric ulcers will become cancerous. Special attention should be paid to esophageal and gastric ulcers. Even if the pathology report shows benign lesions, a follow-up examination is required after one course of treatment.

4. Patients with atrophic esophagitis: This is a precancerous lesion of esophageal cancer. Usually, they should have a check-up once a year, and biopsies should be taken from multiple locations such as the upper, middle, and lower corners of the esophagus.

5. Patients after esophageal cancer surgery: After esophageal cancer surgery, residual cancer cells may recur at the anastomosis site within 1 to 2 years, so regular follow-up examinations are required. Generally speaking, after esophageal cancer surgery, follow-up examinations should be conducted every 3 to 5 months within 1 year, about half a year after 1 year, and once a year after 3 years.