Unusual Manifestations of Carcinoma of the Esophagus

APPROXIMATELY 20 per cent of esophageal carcinomas are nonobstructing when first seen and many remain so throughout the course of the disease.1 2 3 4 For this reason dysphagia, usually the most prominent symptom, may be a late or terminal manifestation.1 , 5 , 6 In the nonobstructing lesions unusual presenting symptoms often occur as a result of extension to contiguous structures or as a consequence of distant metastasis. In either event the patient's complaints may seem unrelated to the esophagus, and the correct diagnosis may be missed or delayed.Local extension can cause hoarseness, pain or cough from involvement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve or tracheobronchial . . .