University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center Provides Accurate Esophageal Cancer Diagnoses
At UH Seidman Cancer Center, the first step in diagnosing esophageal cancer is a physical examination and a review of the patient’s medical history. If esophageal cancer is suspected, our doctors may order one of the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:
- X-ray: During an upper gastrointestinal X-ray, the patient swallows a barium solution that coats the esophagus and stomach before X-ray images are taken. Barium makes the organs more visible and helps physicians to see any abnormalities in the esophagus.
- Endoscopy: Another common way of diagnosing esophageal cancer is an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. After light sedation, an endoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a small light and lens at the end is placed down the patient’s throat to examine the esophagus. During an endoscopy, University Hospitals doctors also may perform a biopsy, to remove tiny pieces of tissue from the esophagus and examine them under a microscope for cancerous cells.
If cancer is confirmed, the next step in the diagnostic process is to determine the stage, or extent, of the disease.