Esophagus Cancer

Group urges physicians to move aggressively against early esophagus cancer indications.
Bloomberg News (3/2, Wechsler) reports, "Doctors should remove suspicious cells in the esophagus during screenings to help prevent the development of cancer," according to guidelines issued Tuesday by the American Gastroenterological Association. Physicians are advised "not to wait to see whether abnormal cells turn into cancer and take quicker action using new surgical technology," AGA said in its recommendations. The revised guidelines "move toward prevention rather than just detection," explained John Inadomi, chair of the association's Clinical Practice and Quality Management Committee. He said the change was prompted by advances in "technology, particularly the more widespread use" of radiofrequency ablation to destroy the precancerous cells in esophagus tissue.