Most of the esophageal cancer patients diagnosed clinically are in advanced stage, but it does not mean that it is not easy to diagnose early esophageal cancer. With the continuous advancement of modern medical technology and various medical devices for diagnosis of esophageal cancer, it is not difficult to diagnose esophageal cancer, and even early esophageal cancer can be easily diagnosed. Even early esophageal cancer can be easily diagnosed. Let’s take a look at what are the methods to diagnose esophageal cancer, right? Commonly used clinical methods to diagnose esophageal cancer include: 1. Esophageal exfoliative cytology examination This method is simple, with little pain and low false positive rate. It has been proved that it is practicable to carry out large-scale census in areas with high incidence of esophageal cancer, and the total positive rate can reach more than 90%. In recent years, intra-esophageal ultrasonic endoscopy has been gradually applied in clinic. Its advantages are that it can accurately determine the depth of infiltration of lesions in the wall of esophagus; it can measure the abnormally enlarged lymph nodes outside the wall; and it can easily distinguish the lesions in the wall of esophagus. The above are some common diagnostic methods of esophageal cancer. Fiberoptic endoscopy (gastroscopy) Since the 1970s, when fiberoptic microscope gradually replaced metal rigid tube microscope, it has become a reliable method for routine clinical diagnosis, postoperative follow-up and observation of therapeutic effect in checking upper gastrointestinal tract diseases (esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, etc.) due to its bendability, good illumination, wide visual field, safety and accuracy. In early esophageal cancer, the detection rate of fiberoptic endoscope can reach more than 85%. And pathologic examination can be carried out, which is the most reliable method for esophageal cancer examination. X-ray barium meal imaging Except for very early esophageal cancer which is not easy to be shown, experienced radiologists can adjust barium adequately, make the patient swallow in small bites in several times, and observe carefully in multiple directions and with gas barium double contrast, most of the time, they can find thickening of esophageal mucous membrane, tortuous or dotted interruption, or esophageal hairy edges, or small filling defects, or small niches, or confined stiffness of the wall of the tube or barium retention and other signs of early stage of esophageal cancer.