Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Majek.
Patients with Barrett's esophagus have 30-40 times higher risk of developing adenocarcinoma of distal esophagus. Treatment of Barrett's esophagus without dysplasia is identical with treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. (Tab. 1, Ref. 5.).
The data from the National Cancer Registry in Slovakia showed 306 esophageal cancers in 1999 (288 men and 18 women). There has been a 5-fold increase in the incidence of esophageal cancer among men in the past 30 years as compared to women in whom no significant chance occurred. The reported 1999 raw incidence of esophageal cancer (per 100000) was 11.0 and 0.6 among men and women in Slovakia, respectively. (Tab. 1, Ref. 8.).
Esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis. The diagnosis in clinical practise is often made in advanced stages when curative treatment is impossible. Overall five year survival is reached only in 10% of patients and a palliative treatment is indicated in 60% of patients. From these patients one year survival could be observed in 55% and five year survival only in about 20% of patients. Progressive dysphagia is responsible for the poor quality of life. (Ref. 4.).
The first prototype of an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was constructed in Japan in 1980. The evolution continued quickly and within the past ten years this method became available in routine practice. One of the most significant indications of EUS in esophagus are locoregional staging and posttherapeutic monitoring of the esophageal cancer. (Ref. 4.).
Esophageal cancer is the tenth most common malignancy. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of carcinoma of distal esophagus. Unfortunately, early esophageal cancer is commonly asymptomatic and inaccessible to examinstion during regular physical examination. Thus, high percentage of patients present with advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Main symptom are nutritional deficiencies, dysphagia, pressure in the epigastrium and commonly, blood loss. (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 4.).