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What Does This Barium Swallow Test Result Indicate?
Question: I have just had a barium swallow test and am concerned. For the past two weeks it has been very difficult for me to swallow. Could this be cancerous? What is causing the difficulty in swallowing?
Brief Answer:
Less likely to be cancer as seen from barium swallow
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. The barium swallow is an investigation which shows passage of barium through the esophagus and also the stomach.
2. In your case it does not look like a cancer. The possibility of an abnormally placed subclavian artery causing compression of the esophagus is to be considered and this is not a cancer. What is happening is that a blood vessel is lightly compressing over the esophageal lumen. However there is passage of barium to the lower part of esophagus and this rules out significant luminal obstruction.
3. Since barium swallow is a two dimensional study, it may not accurately diagnose the cause of your difficulty in swallowing. Abberant right subclavian artery might cause difficulty in food passing through the esophagus but this does not usually worsen over two weeks and your problem requires more detailed investigations. Since the problem is worsening from two weeks, therefore an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to visualize the lumen of esophagus and CT scan to know the complete detail of the aberrant right subclavian artery and the amount of extra luminal compression.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Less likely to be cancer as seen from barium swallow
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. The barium swallow is an investigation which shows passage of barium through the esophagus and also the stomach.
2. In your case it does not look like a cancer. The possibility of an abnormally placed subclavian artery causing compression of the esophagus is to be considered and this is not a cancer. What is happening is that a blood vessel is lightly compressing over the esophageal lumen. However there is passage of barium to the lower part of esophagus and this rules out significant luminal obstruction.
3. Since barium swallow is a two dimensional study, it may not accurately diagnose the cause of your difficulty in swallowing. Abberant right subclavian artery might cause difficulty in food passing through the esophagus but this does not usually worsen over two weeks and your problem requires more detailed investigations. Since the problem is worsening from two weeks, therefore an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to visualize the lumen of esophagus and CT scan to know the complete detail of the aberrant right subclavian artery and the amount of extra luminal compression.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks doctor, how will the endoscopy help? should I just do the ct scan?
Brief Answer:
Both are relevant investigations and CT scan thorax is more important
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
1. The CT scan will show the aberrant right subclavian artery encircling the esophagus and causing pressure over it. This is an important investigation.
2. The endoscopy will show the lumen of esophagus and if there is significant compression which might be causing difficulty in swallowing.
3. Please note that while endoscopy shows the esophagus from the inside and the CT scan will show the extra luminal compression and both are relevant investigations and CT scan is the more important one.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Both are relevant investigations and CT scan thorax is more important
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.
1. The CT scan will show the aberrant right subclavian artery encircling the esophagus and causing pressure over it. This is an important investigation.
2. The endoscopy will show the lumen of esophagus and if there is significant compression which might be causing difficulty in swallowing.
3. Please note that while endoscopy shows the esophagus from the inside and the CT scan will show the extra luminal compression and both are relevant investigations and CT scan is the more important one.
Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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