Diseases that should be identified in esophageal cancer

Before diagnosing esophageal cancer, it should be differentiated from the following diseases:

1. Esophageal achalasia

Patients are mostly young women, with a long course of disease and alternating symptoms. Esophagus examination shows a smooth funnel-shaped stenosis at the lower end of the esophagus, which can be dilated by the use of spasmolytics.

2. Benign esophageal stricture

It can be caused by scars caused by accidental ingestion of corrosive agents, esophageal burns, foreign body damage, chronic ulcers, etc. The course of the disease is long, and dysphagia will no longer worsen after developing to a certain extent. It can be identified by detailed medical history and X-ray barium meal examination.

3. Benign esophageal tumors

It is mainly a rare leiomyoma with a long course of disease and intermittent dysphagia. X-ray barium meal examination can show round, oval or lobed filling defects in the esophagus with neat edges and normal surrounding mucosal patterns.

Globus hysteria

It is more common in young women, with a foreign body sensation in the pharynx that disappears when eating, and is often induced by mental factors. In fact, there is no organic esophageal lesion in this disease, and it is not difficult to distinguish it from esophageal cancer.

5. Iron deficiency pseudomembranous esophagitis

Most of them are women. In addition to dysphagia, they may also have microcytic hypochromic anemia, glossitis, gastric acid deficiency and koilonychia.

6. Lesions of organs around the esophagus

Such as mediastinal tumors, aortic aneurysms, thyroid enlargement, heart enlargement, etc. Except for mediastinal tumors invading the esophagus, X-ray barium meal examination can show smooth pressure marks in the esophagus and normal mucosal patterns.