Screening for Esophageal Cancer

Executive Summary

Screening is used to check for Esophageal cancer occurrence before having any signs or symptoms. Screening for cancer occurrence aims to lower the number of people who may develop the disease and those who die due to the condition or eliminate deaths from cancer. People with Barrett’s esophagus are advised to have endoscopic examinations regularly. Biopsies may be taken to remove a small tissue area through a microscope during these examinations. It helps find cancer early or find modifications that could become cancerous over time.

Screening for Esophageal Cancer

Screening is used to check for cancer before having any signs or symptoms. Scientists have created and continue to develop tests that can screen a person for certain types of cancer before symptoms or signs appear. The goals of cancer screening are to:

• Lower the number of people who may develop the disease
• Lower the number of people who die due to the disease or eliminate deaths from cancer altogether

Regular screening tests to find esophageal cancer in people without symptoms are not used in the United States. People with Barrett’s esophagus are advised to have endoscopic examinations regularly ^​1​. An endoscopic examination uses a lighted, flexible tube to look inside the esophagus. Biopsies may be taken to remove a small tissue area for examination through a microscope during these examinations ^​2​. This type of screening can help find cancer early or find modifications that could become cancerous over time.

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