Also called an esophagram, this is a series of x-rays of the esophagus. The patient drinks a liquid containing barium, which coats the inside of the esophagus. The barium makes any changes in the shape of the esophagus show up on the x-rays.

During the procedure, you will drink barium, a thick, white, milkshake-like liquid. Barium coats the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum and makes them show up more clearly on x-rays. The radiologist can also see ulcers, scar tissue, abnormal growths, hernias, or areas where something is blocking the normal path of food through the digestive system. Using a machine called a fluoroscope, the radiologist is also able to watch your digestive system work as the barium moves through it. This part of the procedure shows any problems in how the digestive system functions, for example, whether the muscles that control swallowing are working properly. As the barium moves into the small intestine, the radiologist can take x-rays of it as well.

An upper GI series takes 1 to 2 hours. X rays of the small intestine may take 3 to 5 hours. The procedure is not uncomfortable. The barium may cause constipation and white-colored stool for a few days after the procedure.

Also called endoscopy, this is an examination of the inside of the esophagus using a thin-lighted tube called an endoscope. An anesthetic (substance that causes numbness) is usually used during this procedure. If an abnormal area is found, the doctor can collect cells and tissue through the endoscope for examination under a microscope.

A biopsy is a diagnostic test that involves collecting small pieces of esophageal tissue, usually through a needle, for examination under a microscope to assess for cancer cells, tissue changes or other conditions.

An x-ray of the chest area

A type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the body. A computed tomography (CT), a thin X-ray beam rotates as small detectors measure the amount of X-rays which make it through the patient or particular area of interest. A computer analyzes the data to construct a cross-sectional (axial) image. These images can be stored, viewed on a monitor, or printed on film. In addition, three-dimensional models of organs can be created by stacking the individual images, or "slices".

A test to determine if the cancer has spread to the bones. A bone scan is a nuclear medicine test that detects areas of increased or decreased bone metabolism (turnover). This is accomplished by determining how much of a radioactive isotope collects in the bones of the body. The test is performed to identify abnormal processes involving the bone such as tumor, infection, or fracture.