Precautions for esophageal exfoliative cytology examination for esophageal cancer

Esophageal exfoliated cytology is one of the most commonly used examination items for esophageal cancer and is a pathological examination. Exfoliated cells refer to the mucosal epithelial cells on the inner surface of natural cavity organs. Under normal circumstances, the mucosal epithelial cells of human organs often shed and renew. By examining these exfoliated epithelial cells, relevant hints can be made about the lesions.

The esophageal exfoliative cytology examination has the advantages of being easy to operate, safe, and less painful for patients. Its accuracy rate can reach more than 90%, and it is an important method for large-scale screening of esophageal cancer. However, it should be noted that the following matters need to be paid attention to when performing esophageal exfoliative cytology examination.

1. Patients with esophageal bleeding and bleeding tendency, or those with esophageal varices are prohibited from undergoing esophageal cytology examination;

2. Patients with deep esophageal ulcers or complicated with hypertension, heart disease or late pregnancy found by esophageal X-ray should be carefully examined for exfoliated cells in the esophagus;

3. Patients who are in poor general condition or too weak should undergo this examination after their physical condition improves;

4. For patients with concurrent acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and upper digestive tract, the infection should be controlled before examination.

In addition, if esophageal exfoliative cytology combined with X-ray barium meal examination can be used as the basis for the diagnosis of esophageal cancer, most patients can be spared the pain of esophagoscopy. However, if the patient has esophageal stenosis and obstruction symptoms, esophagoscopy is still required.