page_title: Esophageal cancer
section_title: Diagnosis
hierarchical_section_title: Esophageal cancer / Diagnosis
caption_attribution_description: English: Esophageal cancer as shown by a filling defect during an upper GI series
context_page_description: Esophageal cancer is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss. Other symptoms may include pain when swallowing, a hoarse voice, enlarged lymph nodes around the collarbone, a dry cough, and possibly coughing up or vomiting blood.
  The two main sub-types of the disease are esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma, which is more common in the developing world, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is more common in the developed world. A number of less common types also occur. Squamous-cell carcinoma arises from the epithelial cells that line the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma arises from glandular cells present in the lower third of the esophagus, often where they have already transformed to intestinal cell type. Causes of the squamous-cell type include tobacco, alcohol, very hot drinks, poor diet, and chewing betel nut. The most common causes of the adenocarcinoma type are smoking tobacco, obesity, and acid reflux.
  The disease is diagnosed by biopsy done by an endoscope. Prevention includes stopping smoking and eating a healthy diet.
caption: Esophageal cancer as shown by a filling defect during an upper GI series
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