QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
We are most concerned about oesophageal cancer in this patient - dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and weight loss, are both red flag symptoms for this condition.

A CT of the chest and abdomen would not be used as a diagnostic tool - it would be used to stage the cancer if one was confirmed. This would be done through an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD).
10001883
b
CT of chest & abdomen
QuestionChoice
A staging laparoscopy is used to identify liver and peritoneal metastases. This would not be a first-line investigation.

The first-line investigation for an oesophageal cancer would be an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD). We are worried about this as this patient has dysphagia, and difficulty swallowing, accompanied by unintentional weight loss.
10001885
d
Staging Laparoscopy
QuestionChoice
This procedure is used to clarify the depth of cancer invasion and the involvement of local lymph nodes. It would not be a first-line investigation.

To investigate this patient for the presence of oesophageal cancer, due to his dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and weight loss, an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) would be carried out.
10001886
e
Endoscopic ultrasound
QuestionChoice
A PET-CT Scan is carried out to exclude metastases of malignant primary cancers. This would not be a first-line investigation.

We are worried about this patient having an oesophageal cancer - an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) is the first-line investigation we would carry out.
10001884
c
PET-CT scan
QuestionChoice
Dysphagia, difficulty swallowing, is the commonest symptom of oesophageal cancer.

This is a very worrying sign as significant cancer growth usually occurs before dysphagia develops.

The first-line investigation used to diagnose an oesophageal cancer is an upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy, also known as an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD). If a lesion is found, it would be biopsied to confirm the diagnosis.
10001882
a
Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD)
Concept
Chapter
2693
3985
Oesophageal carcinoma
Topic
136
Gastroenterology
12923
A 72-year-old man presents to General Practice complaining that his food feels 'stuck' when he swallows. This has been gradually worsening for the past 3 months. He has also noticed his trousers getting looser, despite not trying to lose weight.

What would be your first-line investigation for this patient?
a