How to diagnose an esophageal mass?

The esophagus is the passage for people to eat, and it is the passage that connects the mouth to the stomach and intestines. The role of the esophagus in people's health cannot be underestimated. Once there is a problem with the esophagus, it will cause serious damage to the body. Therefore, protecting the esophagus is also a health matter for people. Some diseases may also occur in the esophagus. For example, lumps also account for a large proportion in the esophagus. So, how to diagnose a lump in the esophagus?

Differential diagnosis of esophageal masses:

(I) Achalasia

Patients are mostly young women, with a long course of illness and symptoms that vary in severity. Esophageal barium meal examination can show that the lower end of the esophagus is smooth, funnel-shaped and narrow, which can be dilated when antispasmodics are used. This is also one of the differential diagnoses of esophageal masses.

(ii) Benign esophageal stricture

It may be caused by scars caused by accidental swallowing of corrosives, esophageal burns, foreign body injuries, chronic ulcers, etc. The course of the disease is long, and dysphagia will no longer worsen after it develops to a certain extent. It can be identified by detailed medical history and X-ray barium meal examination.

(III) Benign esophageal tumor

It is mainly a rare leiomyoma with a long course of disease and dysphagia is mostly intermittent. X-ray barium meal examination can show round, oval or lobed filling defects in the esophagus with neat edges and normal surrounding mucosal patterns. This is also one of the differential diagnoses of esophageal masses.

(IV) Globus hysterica

It is more common in young women, who sometimes have a sensation of a foreign body in the throat that disappears when eating and is often triggered by mental factors. This disease actually does not involve any organic esophageal lesions, and it is not difficult to differentiate it from esophageal cancer.

5. Iron deficiency pseudomembranous esophagitis

Most of them are women. In addition to dysphagia, they may also have symptoms such as microcytic hypochromic anemia, glossitis, achlorhydria and koilonychia, which is also one of the differential diagnoses of esophageal masses.

6. Lesions of organs surrounding the esophagus

Such as mediastinal tumors, aortic aneurysms, thyroid enlargement, heart enlargement, etc. Except for mediastinal tumors invading the esophagus, X-ray barium meal examination can show smooth pressure marks in the esophagus and normal mucosal patterns.