Esophageal Sponge Cytology

Esophageal cancer has high incidence and poor survival rate and therefore, there is great need for screening for precursor lesions that identify individuals at high risk of developing invasive esophageal carcinoma. There is no standard screening method for esophageal cancers though endoscopy has been most commonly used. Although endoscopy has high sensitivity and specificity, due to its high cost, it is not readily acceptable by patients. Endoscopists and pathologists in the country are few and mainly based in the City, making it difficult for patients in the rural areas to access their services. Studies have shown esophageal sponge cytology as a sensitive, cheaper, less invasive and readily acceptable by patients as an esophageal cancer screening method. It has also shown to be sensitive in the detection of esophageal infection especially in patients with acquired immunodeficiency disease. This sponge sampling procedure can be effectively performed by non physician medical professionals quickly and with little discomfort to patients; thus it can be used as screening method especially in areas where endoscopy services are not available.