Endoscopic Techniques for Early Detection of Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Early detection of esophageal cancer can provide a good prognosis and a possibility of achieving a cure through endoscopic treatment. Owing to the high risk of lymph node metastasis, the prognosis of esophageal cancer is poorer than that of gastric cancer. Therefore, detection of esophageal cancer at an early stage by endoscopic examination is important. The esophagus is not simply the area through which the endoscope passes. To avoid missing esophageal lesions, knowledge of the normal mucosal findings is important to detect minute changes in the esophagus. If suspicious lesions are found, endoscopists should describe the location and characteristics of the lesion in detail, and perform accurate biopsy. If a suspicious part is found, chromoendoscopy using Lugol’s solution or image-enhanced endoscopy, such as narrow-band imaging, can help in the decision for further examinations. Biopsy should be performed to confirm the lesion. Key words: Carcinoma, squamous cell; Diagnosis; Endoscopy; Esophageal neoplasms