Esophageal Cancer

Upper gastrointestinal tumours: diagnosis and staging

“…Over the past two decades, however, there has been a dramatic increase of adenocarcinoma arising in columnar cell-lined Barrett’s mucosa, accounting for greater than 50% of all oesophageal cancers in some areas [1, 3]. …”

“…Accordingly, early endoscopy and biopsy are necessary to exclude adenocarcinoma whenever any of these suspicious features develop in the region of a peptic stricture. Advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus can appear infiltrating, polypoid, ulcerative, or, less commonly varicoid [1, 3]. …”

“…8); (2) lymphatic permeation and dissemination; (3) hematogenous embolization (Fig. 9); (4) transperitoneal seeding; (5) intraluminal implantation [1, 2].

Figure 8Coronal reformatted image shows direct invasion (arrows) of a gastric cancer into the spleen via the gastrosplenic ligament.

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“…The majority of these neoplasms in Western countries are detected at an advanced stage due to the insidious nature of the onset of symptoms and their similarity in early stages to benign causes of dysphagia and dyspepsia. Only earlier diagnosis, more accurate staging methods, and more effective treatment protocols offer any hope of improving the dismal prognosis of these tumours [1, 2]. …”

Upper gastrointestinal tract tumours: diagnosis and staging

“…Advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus can appear infiltrating, polypoid, ulcerative, or, less commonly varicoid (Fig. 1) [2]. …”