Question 11: Which of the following is not done in carcinoma esophagus?
- A. pH - metry/monitoring (Correct Answer)
- B. CT chest
- C. PET scan
- D. Biopsy
Explanation: ***pH - metry/monitoring***
- **pH metry/monitoring** is primarily used to diagnose **gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)**, which is not a direct diagnostic tool for esophageal carcinoma itself.
- While GERD is a risk factor for **Barrett's esophagus** and subsequently adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, pH monitoring does not directly identify or stage the cancer.
*CT chest*
- **CT (Computed Tomography) chest** is routinely performed in esophageal carcinoma to assess the **local extent** of the tumor and identify potential **lymph node involvement** or **metastasis** to other organs.
- It is crucial for **staging** the disease and guiding treatment decisions such as resectability.
*PET scan*
- A **PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan** is highly useful for detecting **distant metastases** and identifying **occult disease** not visible on CT, especially in cases of suspected advanced esophageal carcinoma.
- It helps in **accurate staging** and avoiding futile surgery in patients with metastatic disease.
*Biopsy*
- **Biopsy**, typically performed during endoscopy, is the **gold standard** for confirming the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma by obtaining tissue for **histopathological examination**.
- It identifies the cell type (e.g., adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) and grade of the tumor, which is essential for treatment planning.