Computed tomography of the thorax confirmed the esophageal mass with anterior mediastinal, precarinal, subcarinal, and anterior pericardial nodes, and moderate pericardial and bilateral pleural effusions. An echocardiogram revealed a pericardial effusion with tamponade, compression of the left atrium by an esophageal mass, and pulmonary hypertension with an estimated right ventricular systolic pressure of 60 mm Hg. The data gathered in the last 20 years suggests a rising incidence. These occur most commonly in white men in the setting of chronic gastric reflux. Individuals with Barrett's esophagus have a 30 to 125 fold increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma.
Median survival is less than three months from diagnosis.
This has the disadvantage of requiring thoracotomy. It revealed squamous cell cancer. He is currently in home hospice. Comments Please send comments on this article to the OMJEditor . Saclarides, T. J. et al.