Everyone Healthy Library
Esophageal Cancer
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
! Seek urgent medical care if warning signs appear
Some health conditions or symptoms can become urgent. Use this page for education, but seek help quickly if warning signs are present.
Get urgent medical care now if there is any severe, sudden, rapidly worsening or worrying symptom, especially:
- chest pain, pressure or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- trouble breathing, blue lips, severe wheeze or choking
- stroke-like symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or speech trouble
- collapse, fainting, seizure, confusion or extreme drowsiness
- severe bleeding, black stools, vomiting blood or major injury
- severe allergic reaction, swelling of the face/throat or widespread rash with breathing trouble
- severe abdominal pain, severe headache, stiff neck or sudden vision change
- signs of severe dehydration, sepsis, high fever with worsening illness, or symptoms in a baby/young child that concern you
Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Linked signs and symptoms
11Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
1Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
33Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
4Endoscopic procedures
1Medical therapy
11- BrachytherapyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- ChemotherapyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Endoscopic Mucosal ResectionWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- IntubationWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Laser TreatmentWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Lymph Node ResectionWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Photodynamic therapyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Radiation TreatmentWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- ResectionWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- StentingWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Transthoracic EsophagectomyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
Counselling and support
1Alternative and complementary therapies
3Alternative medicine
3Vitamins and minerals
2Minerals
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
31These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Barium Swallow (esophagram)
- Biopsy
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- D-Dimer Blood Test
- Eosinophils Count
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (aka EGD or OGD)
- Fecal Occult Blood Test
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Functional Residual Capacity
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Iron Concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Platelet Count
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological markers/agents
29This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
18- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid LeukocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 /µL; 1y - 6y: 0–20 /µLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil DifferentialReference range exampleAll: 0–5 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- D-DimerReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–240 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsD-Dimer Blood Test
- EosinophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–3 %; 0–3 %Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Eosinophil Differential Of Total WBC
- Fecal BloodReference range exampleAll: 0–2 mLLinked diagnostic testsFecal Occult Blood Test
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- PlateletsReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 150–450 109/L; Adult ( > 16y): 135–380 109/LLinked diagnostic testsPlatelet Count
- Segmented NeutrophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 50–62 %; Adult ( > 16y): 2,500–8,000 mm3Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsBlood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic testsWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
11- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–110 %Linked diagnostic testsAntithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsFolic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Functional Residual CapacityReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 2,500–3,600 mLLinked diagnostic testsFunctional Residual Capacity
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- IronReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 50–120 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 50–150 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsIron Concentration, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsLow Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsPotassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic testsVitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Introduction / full article
Esophageal Cancer
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Turmeric [1, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. However, clinical trials on humans are needed)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Selenium Supplement [1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. 20, 21, 22]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. IMPORTANT: Selenium is toxic in high doses. Massive overdoses can cause kidney failure, breathing difficulty and death. Selenium should only be taken at healthy levels which the body is able to tolerate.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Observational studies have shown that taking adequate daily amounts of selenium can help prevent esophageal cancer. However, these are very unreliable studies, and more research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence
Rabdosia Rubescens (Dong Ling Cao, Oridonin, Isodon Rubescens) [2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Strongly in favor (Clinical trials have shown that Rabdosia Rubescens increases suvival when used in combination with chemotherapy to treat esophageal cancer)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
Green Tea [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Laboratory studies have shown promise with regards to the prevention of esophageal cancer with green tea, but very few reliable clinical trials have been done. More research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence
Photodynamic Therapy:
Recommendation: weakly in favor (Photodynamic therapy is effective as a potential treatment for esophageal cancer)
Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec02/ch021/ch021c.html?qt=cancer&alt=sh#sec02-ch021-ch021a-1409a
2. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
3. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/green-tea
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968850
5. http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_4326770
6. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-green_tea.html
7. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/greentea/index.htm
8. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?fs=ND&pt=100&id=1140&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
9. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/4/4/578.abstract
10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15586232
11. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1140-RABDOSIA RUBESCENS.aspx?activeIngredientId=1140&activeIngredientName=RABDOSIA RUBESCENS
12. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/rabdosia-rubescens
13. http://alternativehealing.org/dong_ling_cao.htm
14. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/selenium?sitearea=ETO
15. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/doc.aspx?viewid=ED8AD8E8-6AE5-458D-8091-393F4CB73F0D
16. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-selenium.html
17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9290116
18. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9829869
19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10335455
20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2136228
21. http://www.springerlink.com/content/v0r644v4ju5153k2/
22. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/101/5/283
23. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric
24. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html
25. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm
26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm
27. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/
28. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric