Endoscopy is the most direct method to diagnose esophageal cancer; biopsy and pathology can confirm the diagnosis; multi-point biopsy of suspicious lesions is an important means to improve the diagnosis rate. Staining endoscopy is conducive to the discovery of early lesions. Normal esophageal mucosa does not stain toluidine blue, while cancerous tissues can be stained dark blue; normal tissues are stained with iodine solution, while cancerous tissues are not stained. Ultrasound endoscopy is the most accurate diagnostic tool to determine the depth of lesion infiltration, involvement of surrounding organs and local lymph node metastasis.
2. Imaging examination
①X-ray examination: barium meal contrast shows the difficulty of early esophageal cancer, and stenosis and obstruction are seen in middle and late stages. CT and MRl examination: CT and MRl of esophageal cancer can show the thickening of esophageal wall, the degree of tumor invasion, and the condition of regional lymph nodes.
③ PET: it can find esophageal lesions and determine whether there are distant metastases.
3. Histology and cytology
Abscission cytology is the main method of screening in high incidence areas of esophageal cancer in China, with a positive rate of 90%.
Metastatic lymph node aspiration cytology or biopsy histology can make a clear diagnosis.