Esophageal Cancer Symptoms & Diagnosis

What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?

Early esophageal cancer usually has no symptoms. In later stages, symptoms can include:

Difficulty swallowing
Burning, pressure or pain in the chest
Unexplained weight loss
Worsening of heartburn or indigestion
Chronic cough, hoarseness and hiccups

How is esophageal cancer diagnosed?

If we think you may have esophageal cancer, you’ll need further testing to make the diagnosis. Testing may include:

Imaging - We may look at the tumor with an endoscopic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT or CAT) scans, or positive emission tomography (PET) scans.
Biopsy - The only way to confirm the diagnosis is with a biopsy. A doctor will take a small sample of your tumor, usually during an endoscopy. We’ll give you an anesthetic to help you relax, and then the doctor will put the endoscope (a long flexible tube) through your mouth and into your esophagus to see the tumor and remove a sample. Then a doctor who specializes in esophageal cancer will look at it under a microscope and do other tests to learn more about the tumor.
Molecular diagnostics - Our researchers are working to find mutations and markers in tumors that could be used to figure out how aggressive certain cancers are and help decide when chemotherapy is needed.

FACT Accredited

Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute is proud that our Blood & Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Program is fully FACT Accredited for stem cell transplants and cellular therapies.

This accreditation means we are certified to perform stem cell transplants and cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell therapies within our Institute. Additionally, this recognition allows our team to obtain full insurance coverage for these procedures from all providers. For more information on FACT Accreditation, you can visit the foundation’s website.

Have questions?

We're here to help answer any questions you or your family may have.

What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?

How is esophageal cancer diagnosed?

FACT Accredited

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