Esophagus
The esophagus is the portion of the digestive canal that lies between the pharynx (the part of the neck and throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity) and the stomach, extending about 10 inches in length. The esophagus is muscular organ lined with mucous membranes. The mucous allows the passageway to remain moist and assist the food down the muscular tube, and moves food down towards the stomach in a serious of muscle contractions known as peristalsis.
Cancer can develop in any part of the esophagus from numerous causes. Among the contributing factors of esophageal cancer are tobacco and alcohol consumption, obesity, and the presence of chronic acid reflux. Exposure to asbestos fibers is also a risk factor, as these carcinogenic fibers are capable of lodging into the sensitive tissue and muscle that line the esophagus. Most esophageal cancers arise from the cells lining the esophagus (squamous cells) or from the glandular epithelium (adenocarcinoma). A rare cancer of the lining of the esophagus is known as esophageal mesothelioma, and though it only occurs in about 11,000 Americans per year, the number of cases is increasing.
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Symptoms of esophageal mesothelioma include difficulty swallowing; a feeling of fullness, pressure, or burning as food goes down the esophagus; and a feeling of food getting stuck behind the breastbone. The cancer may be diagnosed through an esophagram (also known as barium swallow), which involves x-rays being taken upon the patient consuming a special fluid (a barium solution) which coats the esophagus and allows for detailed x-ray images. The doctor may also order an esophagoscopy, which involves a flexible, lighted scope (an endoscope) which is passed through the mouth and down the esophagus to view the area where the esophagus joins the stomach. The esophagoscopy may include a biopsy, where a small piece of tissue would be taken during the procedure for lab examination. A CT scan, PET scan, or ultrasound may also be ordered when appropriate.
Treatment of esophageal mesothelioma may involve surgical removal, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. In addition, newer treatments such as laser therapy or photodynamic therapy (treatment with light and light-sensitive drugs) may be available.