Differences Between Esophagitis and Esophageal Tumor
Disease description:
I’ve recently experienced a mild sensation of food sticking in my throat while eating over the past two days. My doctor mentioned it could be esophageal cancer. What are the differences between esophagitis and esophageal cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhao Haiming
The distinction between esophagitis and esophageal tumors lies in their pathological findings and clinical presentations. Esophagitis is a benign, flat mucosal lesion, with primary symptoms including heartburn, retrosternal pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia. In contrast, esophageal tumors are exophytic lesions protruding into the lumen and may be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are typically small and often asymptomatic. Malignant tumors—including leiomyosarcoma and lymphoma—commonly present with dysphagia, often accompanied by chest pain or gastrointestinal bleeding.
