Esophageal Cancer: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Cardiovascular System (I00-I99).

Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).

  • Diffuse esophageal spasm – neuromuscular dysfunction of esophageal muscles with intermittent retrosternal (located behind the sternum) pain.
  • Hypercontractile esophagus (nutcracker esophagus).
  • Gastric ulcer (stomach ulcer)
  • Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
  • Esophageal achalasia – dysfunction of the esophagus with lack of smooth muscle relaxation due to degeneration of a plexus of nerves in the lower portion of the esophagus.
  • Esophageal diverticula – protrusions of mucosa through the muscular layer of the esophagus.
  • Esophageal ulcers – ulcers in the esophageal wall.

Neoplasms – tumor diseases (C00-D48).

  • Gastric carcinoma (stomach cancer)