Pathophysiology Of Esophageal Cancer

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Esophageal cancer is a tumor that begins to grow in the lining of the esophagus, and then can grow through the wall of the esophagus. If the tumor grows through the esophageal wall, it can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system. The areas at the bottom of the esophagus, and where the esophagus joins the stomach, are lined with columnar cells. If a malignant tumor grows here, it's called adenocarcinoma which is what my pt has. Studies have shown a relationship between frequency of reflux symptoms and risk of adenocarcinoma. The constant acid reflux will irritate the lining of the esophagus, and complications can occur, such as Barrett's esophagus (a condition that occurs because of continued reflux of fluid from the stomach into the lower esophagus.) The reflux eventually changes the cells at the end of the esophagus. Esophageal tumors begin as benign growths and grow rapidly because there is no serosal layer to stop growth. Because of the vast lymphatic network of the esophagus, esophageal cancers spread fast, both locally to regional lymph nodes and distantly to the lungs and liver. Complications include pulmonary problems that result from fistulae and aspiration, including pneumonia and pulmonary abscess; invasion of the tumor into major vessels, causing a massive hemorrhage; obstruction and compression of the other structures in the head and neck; weight loss and nutritional deficiencies due to difficulty swallowing; solid food impaction can result when there is severe stenosis, requiring endoscopic intervention for disimpaction; regurgitation of food or oral secretions may also occur; or the tumor mass may cause compression and obstruction of the tracheobronchial tree, leading to dyspnea(difficulty breathing), chronic cough, and at times post obstructive pneumonia. The most common symptom of esophageal cancer, leading to its diagnosis

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