The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Cancer of the esophagus starts from its inner layer and grows outward, originating in either the squamous cells that routinely line the inner surface of the esophagus or glandular tissue that develops within the esophagus.

The American Cancer Society has indicated that an estimated 14,520 cases of esophageal cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2005. The number of deaths from esophageal cancer is estimated to be 13,570 in 2005.

Diagnosis

Early cancers of the esophagus have no symptoms and there are no tests that can be used to screen for esophageal cancer. The presence of symptoms usually indicates that the cancer is at an advanced stage when a cure will be unlikely. Difficulty swallowing is the most common symptom, which is noticed when the diameter of the esophagus has been narrowed substantially. The treatment course and patient prognosis depends, to a great extent, on the cancer's stage.

A PET scan can show where tumor cells are growing, which helps your doctor determine the best course of treatment.

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Treatment

Like most cancer treatments, the treatment for esophageal cancer may cause side effects so your doctor will schedule you for routine follow-up visits to help manage those side effects and check how effective the treatment is and whether or not the cancer is spreading. Your doctors may order follow up tests. This is also where PET can help.

PET is the most useful test that you can have when doctors are staging or re-staging your cancer because it is more accurate than CT or any other test.

Follow-Up

Imaging with PET is also critical in order to look for the return of the cancer. In many patients with esophageal cancers, a mass may remain after treatment. The mass itself may be on a CT scan, but CT cannot determine if the tumor has been successfully treated or if residual cancer remains that must be removed. PET can be used to image tumor response to therapy and to detect recurrence in successfully treated lesions. For post surgery and other treatments, PET is extremely important for monitoring if the cancer cells have returned and if treatment should be re-started.

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Case Study

We are currently in the process of compiling several studies for this type of cancer.

More Information

Find the support you need:

The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.

Support programs exist in a variety of formats, including counseling, support groups, and self-help programs. For those who cannot attend meetings, there are also on-line mechanisms that may allow a patient to "chat" with other people facing similar situations. These types of programs can provide a way for you to relate your experience firsthand with others and may provide treatment-related tips about drug side-effects that will be helpful to you.

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