Common complications of esophageal cancer

During the development of esophageal cancer, especially in the late stage, it will often invade surrounding tissues and organs, causing a series of complications, the most common of which are the following:

1. Vomiting blood

Vomiting blood is a clinical symptom in some patients with advanced esophageal cancer, which is often related to tumor invasion of large blood vessels.

2. Water and electrolyte imbalance

Saliva contains inorganic substances such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and chlorine. Esophageal cancer patients lose a lot of saliva due to dysphagia, which leads to water and electrolyte disorders in patients. In severe cases, hypokalemia or muscle weakness may occur.

3. Aspiration pneumonia

Some patients with esophageal cancer have esophageal obstruction, which can cause aspiration pneumonia. Patients may have fever and symptoms of systemic poisoning.

4. Perforation

Late-stage esophageal cancer, especially ulcerous esophageal cancer, can cause perforation due to local erosion and severe ulceration of the tumor. For example, perforation of the trachea can cause esophageal tracheal fistula, and the patient will cough when drinking water; perforation of the mediastinum can cause mediastinitis, and the patient will experience chest tightness, chest pain, cough, fever, increased heart rate and increased white blood cell count; perforation of the lungs can cause lung abscesses, and the patient will have high fever, cough, and purulent sputum; perforation of the aorta can cause massive bleeding.

5. Cachexia

Patients with advanced esophageal cancer have increasingly severe dysphagia, and they are in a state of hunger for a long time, resulting in varying degrees of dehydration, negative nitrogen balance, and weight loss, manifested as extreme emaciation, weakness, loose and dry skin, and a state of exhaustion. Cachexia has a direct impact on the incidence of other complications and surgical mortality after esophagectomy.