How oesophageal and stomach cancer are diagnosed

You usually start by seeing your GP and if cancer is suspected you will be referred to see a specialist or you may go directly for endoscopy (OGD).

Endoscopy

A doctor or specialist nurse will put a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) into your oesophagus, down into the stomach and through to the small bowel. There is a tiny light and camera on the end of the tube and this helps the endoscopist to see any abnormal areas. They may take a small sample (biopsy) to examine under the microscope, and this can usually confirm if there is a cancer.

Further tests

If there is an abnormal area identified in the oesophagus or stomach, the endoscopist usually orders some further tests. Scans are used to confirm a cancer diagnosis and also to see if there has been spread to other parts of the body. You may have further tests even if no cancer was found and the biopsy results are unclear.

Further tests may include:

• CT (computerised tomography) scan
• PET-CT scan – is usually only required for oesophageal cancer