Endoscopic detection and treatment of early esophageal cancer: a critical analysis.

Early-stage esophageal cancer is almost asymptomatic. The endoscopic findings are minimal, and there is no esophageal stenosis. However, a risk of malignant propagation into vessels and lymph nodes is present in small tumors. Endoscopic destruction or resection should be performed only at the predissemination stage. We present here a critical analysis of whether endoscopic detection and treatment is feasible and efficacious, based on the pathology of esophageal tumors.