Understanding the Terms
Adenocarcinoma - A malignant neoplasm of epithelial cells in a glandular or gland-like pattern.
Adjuvant therapy - Chemotherapy given after surgery to lessen the chances that cancer will recur.
Advanced directives - Oral and written instructions containing your wishes for medical care if you are unable to speak for yourself; includes medical power of attorney and living will.
Anastomosis - A natural communication or connection, direct or indirect, between two blood vessels or other tubular structures; the surgical connection of severed organs to form a continuous channel.
Anastomototic leak - When the tissues have not healed completely from an esophagectomy and liquids or saliva leak into the chest cavity. To treat this condition, more time must be allowed for the tissues to heal completely or the patient undergoes further surgery.
Anemia - A condition where the number of blood cells, amount of hemoglobin, and/or the volume of packed red blood cells are less than normal. Symptoms include pallor of the skin, shortness of breath, palpitations of the heart and fatigue.
Aspiration - The inspiratory suckng into the airways of fluid or any foreighn material, especially gastric contents.
Barium swallow - (also called upper GI series or esophagram) A type of radiology examination where a barium solution is drunk before the x-ray is taken to be able to visualize the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
Barrett's esophagus - A chronic ulceration of the lower esophagus from esohagitis or esophageal cancer, causes the normal lining to be replaced by cells similar to the stomach or intestine, which can tolerate the acid or bile without damage.
Biopsy - A process of removing tissue from a patient for diagnostic examination.
Cancer staging - This is the process to identify the extent of the cancer in the body. The stage is usually determined by the depth of penetration into the wall, the involvement of lymph nodes next to the cancer, and whether the cancer has traveled from the primary origin to metastatic sites of disease.
Cardia - Junction between the stomach and esophagus, also called the gastroesophageal junction.
CAT scan - (computed axial tomography) A type of x-ray procedure that is painless, and provides multiple pitures of the body in specific sections for diagnostic purposes.
Cell - The smallest unit of living structure capable of independent existence. Cells are highly specialized in structure and function.
Chemoradiation - Where chemotheraphy is used in conjunction with radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy - The use of drugs to kill cancer skills.
Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan - Diagnostic studies of internal bodily structures in which computer analysis is used to construct a three dimensional image.
Dilatation - (also dilation) An outpatient treatment used to stretch the esophagus.
Dumping syndrome - Post-surgical rapid gastric emptying; early dumping symptoms includes nausea, vomiting, bloating and diarrhea and late dumping symptoms include weakness, sweating and dizziness.
Dysplasia - Abnormal development or growth of tissue, cells or organs.
Endoscopy - (also called esophagoscopy or EGD) Examination of the interior of a canal or hollow viscus by means of a special instrument, called an endoscope; the patient is sedated during the process.
Esophageal sphincter - Muscles at the stomach that form a valve that prevents the stomach contents from coming back into the esophagus.
Esophagectomy - The surgical removal of part or most of the diseased esophagus andpart of the stomach,and then rebuilding a new esophagus using tissue from stomach or the small or large intestines.
Esophagus - A portion of the digestive canal, shaped like a hollow tube, which connects the throat to the stomach. It is a muscular tube about ten inches long that transfers the bolus of food from the mouth to the stomach. The bolus moves to the stomach independent of gravity Ð e.g. even if you stand on your head, the food you eat will end up in the stomach.
Esophagitis - Irritation, inflammation, or damage of the esophagus caused by regurgitation of the acid gastric contents.
External beam radiation therapy - A type of x-ray therapy that comes from a machine outside of the body, usully delivered daily in a specific series of treatments.
Feeding tube - A flexible tube passed through the nose andinto the alimentary tract, through which liquid food is passed.
Fistula - An abnormal passage from a hollow organ to the body surface or from one organ to another.
Gastroenterologist - A physician with special training in the function and disorders of the gastrointestinal system, including the stomach, intestines, and related organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
Gastroesophageal junction - Located where the stomach and esophagus meet, also known as the cardia.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - A syndrome due to a structural or functional inability of the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent gastric juice from flooding back into the esophagus.
Gastrostomy tube (G-Tube) - A type of feeding tube that is inserted directly into the stomach; procedure is done surgically and requires sedation.
GIST Ð Gastrointestinal stromal tumor - a type of tumor that begins from the cells within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Most tumors arise from within the wall of the stomach, but can arise anywhere throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
H-2 blcokers - Type of pharmaceutical drug used to treat GERD and Barrett's esophagus; examples include Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, and Axid.
Hiatal hernia - Where part of the stomach protrudes through the esophageal opening (esophageal hiatus) of the diaphragm.
Helicobacter pylori - a bacteria that causes inflammation and irritation of the lining of the stomach and intestine
Intravenously - Injection or infusion of liquid, usually medication, directly through the skin into a vein.
Jejunostomy tube (J-tube) - A type of feeding tube that is placedthrough the skin directly into the small bowel; this is a surgical procedure that will require a hospital stay.
Laparoscopy - A type of surgery using a laparoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube that is inserted through a small surgical opening and transmits the picture of the inside of the abdomen to a monitor. This can help identify the spread of cancer to the surface of the intestines, called the peritoneum.
Laser surgery - A surgical procedure using a device that concentrates high energies into an intense narrow beam of nondivergent monochromatic electromagnetic radiaton; used in microsurgery, cauterization, and diagnostic purposes.
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) - A muscle located at the top of the stomach that opens and closes to keep stomach acid and bile from backing up into the esophagus.
Malignant tumor - A rapid growth of abnormal cells that replace normal cells, invade other tissues and organs, may recur afer attempted removal, and is likely to cause the death of the host if left inadequately treated.
Metaplasia - Transformation of an adult, fully formed cell of one kind into an abnormal cell of another kind; an acquired condition (see Barrett's esophagus).
Metastasis - This is a term that describes the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a Òmetastatic tumorÓ or a Òmetastasis.Ó The tumor cells at a metastatic site contain cells that are like those of the primary cancer.
Neoadjuvant therapy - Chemotherapy given before surgery to shrink or isolate the tumor.
Neoplasm - An abnormal tissue that grows by cellular proliferation more rapidly than normal, and continues to grow afer the stimuli that initiated the new growth cease.(see tumor)
Oncologist - A physician with specialized training in the science of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of neoplasms, including causation, pathogenesis, and treatment.
Pathologist - A physician who practices, evaluates and/or supervises diagnostic tests, using materials removed from living or dead patients, to determine the causes or nature of the disease change.
PET (positron emission tomography) scan - A type of scan that measures positron-emitting isotopes with short half-lives that the patient has ingested to assess metabolic and physiologic function rather than anatomic sructure.
Polyps - A general term used for any mass of tissue that bulges or projects outward or upward from the normal surface level; is visible as a roundish structure growing from a mound-like base or a slender stalk.
Proton pump inhibitors - Type of pharmaceutical drug used to treat more complicated GERD (associated with bleeding or strictures); examples include Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, and Nexium.
Radiologist - A physician specially trained in the disgnostic and/or therapeutic use of x-rays and radionuclides, radiation physics and biology; also trained in diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging and applicable physics.
Recurrence - When particular type of cancer has been treated, but later returns either in the same type of tissues or in other areas of the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma - A malignant neoplasm derived from stratified squamos epithelium cells, such as those that line the esophagus.
Stent - A thread, rod or catheter that is inserted into the cell wall of the esophagus to keep it open.
Stricture - A narrowing or tightening of a hollow structure.
Transhiatal esophagectomy - Surgical type of resection of the esophagus where the incision is made from the cervical section of the neck from above and up from the abdomen from below.
Tumor - Any swelling caused by an increased number of abnormal cells.
