Oesophageal Carcinoma

Question 1

Oesophageal Carcinoma Epidemiology

Answer 1

• Common, aggressive tumour
• Most will be SCC or AC
• SCC most common

Question 2

Oesophageal Carcinoma RFs

Answer 2

• Smoking and alcohol
• Barrett’s (precursor of AC)
• Chronic inflammation

Question 3

Oesophageal Carcinoma Presentation

Answer 3

Red Flag Symptoms

• Dysphagia, vomiting, anorexia and WL, GI related blood loss symptoms
• Often present late in progress of disease
• Approximately half will already have distant mets

Other S/Ss
-Dysphagia, WL, loss of appetite, Odynophagia, hoarseness, melaena, hiccups, lymphadenopathy

Question 4

Oesophageal Carcinoma Differentials

Answer 4

• Stricture
• Compression from external source (e.g. bronchial carcinoma, enlarged lymph glands)
• Achalasia
• Gastric cancer
• Metastatic cause (most commonly from breast)

Question 5

Oesophageal Carcinoma Ix

Answer 5

• Bloods
• Urgent endoscopy
• CXR, barium swallow, CT for staging, PET/CT for staging

Question 6

Oesophageal Carcinoma Staging

Answer 6

• Tis, T1, T2, T3, T4

- N/M

Question 7

Oesophageal Carcinoma Management

Answer 7

-Surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, brachytherapy