Symptoms of carcinoma of the oesophagus

Cancer of the oesophagus in its early stages is relatively asymptomatic, and the establishment of the diagnosis may be delayed because of the failure of the patient to seek early medical attention, or because the initial examining physician made an incorrect diagnosis. A good knowledge of the symptoms of the disease as well as an active role in diagnostic studies aid the physician in rapidly achieving the diagnosis. The most common symptoms in 162 patients with cancer of the oesophagus were: difficulty in swallowing (96%), loss of weight (42%), vomiting (25%), pain in the upper part of the abdomen (20%) and retrosternal pain (20%). The mean duration of symptoms before first presentation for medical attention was 3.1 months, and the correct diagnosis was generally established four to six weeks after the initial visit at the doctor's office. In 21.6% of cases, the initial visit did not lead to the correct diagnosis.