[Diagnostic errors in esophageal cancer]

At different stages of examination and treatment in esophageal cancer patients there arise a large number of diagnostic errors, making from 28.3% to 32.7% as shown by our findings. A primary x-ray examination fails to detect tumor in 13.8-19.2% of patients. Most frequently diagnostic errors were due to underestimation of the clinical symptoms (first of all dysphagia and pains in food passage along the esophagus); a long period of time elapsed since patients' referral till roentgenological examination, poor potentialities of the latter in terms of detecting early esophageal cancer. If esophageal cancer is reasonably suspected then esophagoscopy is felt to be mandatory in all cases with negative roentgenological findings. To timely recognize esophageal tumors and lessen the number of diagnostic errors, it seems rational to establish special centers for endoscopic examination (fiberoptic esophagogastroscopy), where this category of patients should be referred to.