How is oesophageal cancer diagnosed?
A. The main technique used for diagnosis is called endoscopy. Under sedation, a thin fibre-optic tube (the endoscope) is passed down the throat. The inside of the oesophagus is lit up and photographed. Any growths can be spotted relatively easily by this method. A type of endoscope which can take a small sample of the oesophageal lining (a biopsy) is often used. Sometimes, a barium meal is used instead of endoscopy. The patient is given a white liquid to drink, containing the element barium, then the throat is observed through an X-ray screen. The way that the barium flows through the oesophagus will reveal any growths. If the endoscopy or barium meal reveals a tumour, a CT or ultrasound scan will normally be done to find out if the cancer has spread.
