What is esophageal bulge?

The human body is made up of many parts, and every part is very important. If one part becomes diseased, the entire body cannot support itself well. Our esophagus is very fragile. It is the main passage for food to stay in the stomach. If the esophagus is damaged, it will cause great harm to our body. The esophagus often develops lesions, with red spots or sometimes bulges. The cause is unknown. So what disease is esophageal bulge?

There are many reasons for esophageal bulge, such as esophageal polyps, early esophageal cancer, etc. It is necessary to be vigilant about cancer, and even if there is no cancer at present, relevant examinations are still needed.

1. Esophageal polyps originate from esophageal epithelial cells. Their incidence rate is second only to that of stromal cell tumors, ranking second among esophageal benign tumors. The cause of this disease is unknown, and the onset may be related to chronic inflammation. Depending on their histology, they are named true mucosal polyps, fibrous polyps, myxofibromas, lipomas, and fibromyomas, etc. It is more common in middle-aged and elderly people, more common in men than in women, and mostly occurs after the age of 50. The disease has a long history and progresses slowly. The symptoms depend on the location and size of the polyp. When the polyp is large, it may manifest as difficulty swallowing and pain behind the sternum. A few people have vomiting blood and difficulty breathing. When coughing or vomiting occurs violently, some long-pedunculated polyps may be vomited out from the esophageal cavity. This symptom is a characteristic of this disease.

treat

It is generally believed that once esophageal polyps are diagnosed, they should be removed immediately because polyps can ulcerate, bleed, block the esophageal cavity or become malignant. Some patients may suffer from acute laryngeal obstruction and suffocation due to sudden blockage of the throat by polyps.

1. Endoscopic treatment

If the diameter of the polyp is less than 2 cm, it can be treated under endoscopy using electrocoagulation, electroresection, laser, microwave and other methods.

2. Surgery

Lesions that are not amenable to endoscopic treatment may be considered for surgical treatment.

2. Esophageal cancer is a common digestive tract tumor, and about 300,000 people die from it every year worldwide. Its incidence and mortality rates vary greatly among countries. my country is one of the areas in the world with a high incidence of esophageal cancer, with an average of about 150,000 deaths from the disease each year. Males are more likely to be affected than females, and the age of onset is mostly over 40 years old. The typical symptom of esophageal cancer is progressive dysphagia, which starts with difficulty swallowing dry food, then semi-liquid food, and finally water and saliva.

treat

It is divided into surgical treatment, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and comprehensive treatment.

1. Surgery

Surgery is the preferred treatment for esophageal cancer. If the patient is in good general condition, has good cardiopulmonary reserve, and has no obvious signs of distant metastasis, surgical treatment may be considered. Generally, the chances of resection are greater if the length of cervical cancer is less than 3 cm, the length of upper thoracic cancer is less than 4 cm, and the length of lower thoracic cancer is less than 5 cm. However, there are also cases where the tumor is not too large but is tightly adhered to major organs such as the aorta and trachea and cannot be removed. For larger squamous cell carcinomas that are unlikely to be resected but the patient is in good general condition, preoperative radiotherapy can be used first, and surgery can be performed after the tumor has shrunk.

Contraindications for surgery: ① Poor general condition and cachexia. Or those with severe heart, lung, liver or kidney dysfunction. ② The lesion has invaded a large area and has obvious signs of external invasion and perforation, such as hoarseness or esophageal tracheal fistula.

③Those with distant metastasis.

2. Radiation therapy

①Combined treatment of radiation and surgery can increase the surgical resection rate and improve the long-term survival rate. After preoperative radiotherapy, it is more appropriate to rest for 3 to 4 weeks before surgery. Metal markings are made on the residual cancerous tissue that was not completely removed during surgery, and postoperative radiotherapy usually begins 3 to 6 weeks after surgery. ② Radiotherapy alone is mostly used for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. The surgery for these patients is often difficult, with many complications and unsatisfactory results. It can also be used for patients with contraindications to surgery but whose lesions have not lasted long and who can still tolerate radiotherapy.

3. Chemotherapy

Combining chemotherapy with surgery or with radiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine can sometimes improve the efficacy of treatment, relieve symptoms and prolong the survival of patients with esophageal cancer. However, you should check your blood count and liver and kidney function regularly, and pay attention to drug reactions.