Esophageal cancer physical examination

Physical examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually unremarkable, unless the disease has metastasized, in which case cervical lymphadenopathy and jaundice may be seen.

Patients with esophageal cancer typically have normal physical examinations, unless the disease has metastasized.^[1]

• Patients with esophageal cancer usually appear fatigued.

• Low-grade fever

• Skin examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.
• Jaundice of the skin may be noted with hepatic metastasis.

• HEENT examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.
• Icteric sclera may be noted with hepatic metastasis.
• Purulent exudate from the nares with facial tenderness and swelling may be noted with mediastinal and oropharyngeal metastasis.

• Neck examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.
• Cervical lymphadenopathy is may be seen with metastasis.

• Pulmonary examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.
• Asymmetric chest expansion and lung hypo-resonance may be noted with mediastinal invasion.

• Cardiovascular examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.

Abdominal examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.

• The following may be seen with hepatic metastasis:
  • Abdominal distention
  • A palpable abdominal mass
  • Hepatomegaly / splenomegaly / hepatosplenomegaly

• Back examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.

• Neuromuscular examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.
• Vocal cord paralysis may occur with metastasis.

• Extermities examination of patients with esophageal cancer is usually normal.

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