Early detection of oesophageal carcinoma in southern Thailand

The use of balloon cytology technique for detection of oesophageal carcinoma has been tested in 73 non-symptomatic patients and 53 patients with symptoms of oesophageal carcinoma from the high incidence of Southern Thailand. Cytological findings were compared with findings of esophagoscopy and oesophageal biopsy. Among symptomatic patients, scope/biopsy revealed 29 positive for carcinoma, against which balloon cytology yielded 9 false negatives (sensitivity 69%), but no false positives. All false negatives were of the stenosing type of tumour. One of 3 early cases of carcinoma revealed by the balloon technique among asymptomatic patients could not be detected by oesophagoscopy, biopsy or oesophagogram, but was confirmed by repeated cytological examination. The basic properties of the balloon cytology technique appear to justify its use as a routine diagnostic tool among high-risk patients for oesophageal carcinoma in Southern Thailand.