Esophageal cancer is typically identified as squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. There are multiple risk factors that may contribute to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma including smoking, alcohol consumption, and the human papillomavirus. Lesions may appear ulcerated, friable, and circumferential and may obstruct the esophagus. Therefore, patients may complain of non-specific symptoms including dysphagia, weight loss, and retrosternal discomfort. Clinicians often rely on an upper endoscopy with biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Computed tomography scans and endoscopic ultrasounds are also employed to assess the extent of malignant spread. Management may involve endoscopic resection for superficial lesions or surgical resection for lesions penetrating the submucosa. Esophageal stents may play a role, specifically as a palliative measure for enhancing oral intake. We present an instance of utilizing a self-expandable, metal-covered esophageal stent with balloon dilation in the setting of a newly diagnosed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma lesion in a 73-year-old female. Ultimately, the use of an esophageal stent in this patient helped improve the patient's oral intake during her course of hospitalization. Her diet was slowly advanced to clear liquids and progressively to a low-residue diet before being discharged to follow-up with her diagnosis as outpatient with gastroenterology.
Keywords: dysphagia in the elderly; esophageal adenocarcinoma; esophageal cancer (ec); esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (scc); esophageal stent.
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