Esophageal cancer differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Parminder Dhingra, M.D. [2]Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[3]

Overview

Esophageal cancer must be differentiated from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus, esophageal achalasia, gastritis, gastric ulcer, and stomach cancer.

Differentiating Esophageal cancer from other Diseases

Approach to dysphasia

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dysphagia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oropharyngeal dysphagia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Esophageal dysphagia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solids only
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solids and Liquids
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solids only
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Solids and Liquids
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Zenker's diverticulum
❑Neoplasm
❑Webs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Neurogenic
 
 
 
Myogenic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Achalasia
❑Scleroderma
❑DES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Myasthenia gravis
❑Connective tissue disorder
❑Myotonic dystrophy
 
 
 
 
No
 
 
 
 
Yes
 
 
 
 
 
❑Heart burn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barium swallow
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mental status
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Pill esophagitis
❑Caustic injury
❑Chemotherapy
 
 
Yes
 
 
 
No
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impaired
 
 
 
Normal
 
 
 
 
Non progressive
 
 
 
Progressive
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sac
 
 
Webs
 
 
Mass
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Scleroderma
 
 
 
❑Achalasia
❑DES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Stroke
 
 
 
❑ALS
❑Parkinsonism
 
 
 
 
❑Rings
❑Webs
 
 
 
❑Strictures
❑Cancer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Zenker's diverticulum
 
 
❑Plummer-Vinson syndrome
 
 
❑Carcinoma
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chest pain and manometry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barium swallow
 
 
 
Weight loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase LES pressure
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Rings
 
 
 
❑Webs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yes
 
 
 
No
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rapid
 
 
 
Slow
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Achalasia
 
 
 
❑DES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
❑Esophageal cancer
 
 
 
❑Strictures/GERD
 
 
 
 
 
 

Differentiating Esophageal cancer from other Diseases

Disease Signs and Symptoms Barium esophagogram Endoscopy Other imaging and laboratory findings Gold Standard
Dysphagia Weight loss Heartburn Other findings
Esophageal carcinoma Gradual progressive dysphasia to solid and liquid + ±
Case courtesy of Dr Bruno Di Muzio, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 4232f
{{#ev:youtube|5ucSlgqGAno}}
Plummer-Vinson syndrome Gradual non-progressive dysphagia to solids ± -
  • Glossitis
  • Koilonychia
  • Weakness
  • Pale color of the skin
  • Cold intolerance
  • Reduced resistance to infection
  • Altered behavior
  • Craving for for unusual items (such as ice or cold vegetables)
Barium esophagogram (Source: Case courtesy of Dr Hani Salam, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 14029)
{{#ev:youtube|HFfsTgsB6Pg}}
Triad of
Esophageal stricture Sudden onset and gradual progressive dysphasia to solids ± ±
  • Sacculations
  • Fixed transverse folds
  • Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticula   
Case courtesy of Dr Ahmed Abd Rabou, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 23008
{{#ev:youtube|vax5E-jMnQ}}
Diffuse esophageal spasm Sudden non-progressive dysphagia to solid and liquid + +
  • Nonperistaltic and nonpropulsive contractions
  • Corkscrew or rosary bead esophagus
Barium swallow appearance of DES
Source:By Nevit Dilmen [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
  • Inconclusive
{{#ev:youtube|2ipA34iMA3c}}
Achalasia Gradual non-progressive dysphagia to solid and liquid ± -
  • "Bird's beak" or "rat tail" appearance
  • Dilated esophageal body
  • Air fluid level (absent peristalsis)
  • Absence of an intragastric air bubble
Case courtesy of Dr Mario Umana, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 38071
{{#ev:youtube|ydLcskQzEjM}}
  • Residual pressure of LES > 10 mmHg
  • Incomplete relaxation of the LES
  • Increased resting tone of LES
  • Aperistalsis
Systemic sclerosis Gradual progressive dysphasia to solid and liquid ± + Positive serology for
Zenker's diverticulum Gradual dysphasia to solid ± -
  • Outpouching of posterior pharyngeal wall
  • Exclude the presence of SCC
{{#ev:youtube|FdEruFsNdVA}}
 
  • CT & MRI shows out-pouching over the posterior esophagus in the Killian's triangle
Stroke (Cerebral hemorrhage) Sudden progressive dysphasia to solid and liquid + ±
Motor disorders (Myasthenia gravis) Gradual progressive dysphasia to solid and liquid ±
  • Stasis in pharynx and pooling in pharyngeal recesses
  • Anti–acetylcholine receptor antibody test
GERD Sudden onset gradual progressive dysphasia to solid ± +
Esophageal web Gradual progressive dysphasia to solid and/or liquid - ±
  • Smooth membrane not encircling the whole lumen

References

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  3. Badillo R, Francis D (2014). "Diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease". World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. 5 (3): 105–12. doi:10.4292/wjgpt.v5.i3.105. PMC 4133436. PMID 25133039.
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