Esophagus Disorders—Benign Tumors

Also called: Benign cancer, Benign neoplasms, Noncancerous tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren’t cancer. Malignant ones are. Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain.

Tumors are made up of extra cells. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as your body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when your body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form tumor.

Treatment often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don’t grow back.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

• Biopsy – polyps (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cherry angioma (Medical Encyclopedia)

The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food, and liquids from your mouth to the stomach. You may not be aware of your esophagus until you swallow something too large, too hot, or too cold. You may also notice it when something is wrong. You may feel pain or have trouble swallowing.

The most common problem with the esophagus is GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). With GERD, a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it. Over time, GERD can cause damage to the esophagus.

Other problems include heartburn, cancer, and esophagitis. Doctors may use various tests to make a diagnosis. These include imaging tests, an upper endoscopy, and a biopsy.

Treatment depends on the problem. Some problems get better with over-the-counter medicines or changes in diet. Others may need prescription medicines or surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Achalasia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Barrett esophagus (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bleeding esophageal varices (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diet and eating after esophagectomy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• EGD discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophageal atresia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophageal manometry (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophageal perforation (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophageal spasm (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophageal stricture – benign (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophagitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Esophagitis – infectious (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Lower esophageal ring (Schatzki) (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Mallory-Weiss tear (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Upper GI and small bowel series (Medical Encyclopedia)