Oesophageal Cancers Presenting Signs Flashcards
1
Q
What are the presenting signs of oesophageal cancer?
A
- Dysphagia
- Anorexia or cachexia
- vomiting
- haemoptysis
- haematemesis
- chronic cough
- hoarse voice
- pain in sternum or back
2
Q
What does hoarseness suggest?
A
Involvement of the laryngeal nerve.
Upper 1/3.
3
Q
What does pneumonia suggest?
A
Tracheo-oesophogeal fistula
Upper 1/3
4
Q
What does hiccups suggest?
A
Phrenic nerve involvement.
More commonly associated with lower third.
5
Q
What does horners syndrome suggest?
A
- sympathetic nerve plexus involvement
6
Q
What does enlarged cervical lymph nodes suggest?
A
- lymphatic spread
7
Q
What does haematamesis suggest?
A
- invasion of adjacent great blood vessels
8
Q
What does cardiac rhythm disturbance suggest?
A
- direct invasion of the pericardium
- mid oesophageal tumour
9
Q
What investigations will a suspected case receive?
A
- Gastro intestinal endoscopy (within two weeks)
- Non-urgent within 18 weeks with symptoms that are not dysphagia or are under 55
