GASTROENTEROLOGY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
January 15, 2004
Enzinger PC, Mayer RJ. Esophageal Cancer. N Engl J Med 2003;349:2241-2252.
1. Risk factors that increase likelihood of both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus include
a. smoking
b. alcohol abuse
c. radiotherapy to the mediastinum
d. lye ingestion
e Barrett’s esophagus
f. low socioeconomic status
g. GERD
True or False
2. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is found in 1% to 2% of patients presenting with head and neck cancer.
3. A syndrome of hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles is associated with a 95% risk of esophageal cancer by age 70.
4. Squamous cell carcinoma is more common than adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
5. PET scanning using fludeoxyglucose F 18 is more accurate than CT in detecting regional lymph node metastasis.
6. Surgery offers more immediate and long-lasting palliation of dysphagia than endoscopy.
7. Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, but not adenocarcinoma, is responsive to chemotherapy.
8. Therapy of esophageal carcinoma
a. radiation alone is associated with a higher incidence of T-E fistula
b. pre-operative radiation is better than surgery alone
c. pre-operative chemo is definitely better than surgery alone
d. pre-operative chemo + radiation is definitely better than surgery alone