What Causes Burning Sensation In Chest?

Posted on Tue, 17 Nov 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 Answered on

Tue, 8 Dec 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : How do I go about getting a barium swallow test? I am a male and 35 years old and think I have esophageal cancer. I have a burning sensation in my chest, hard to swallow recently and have had back and chest pain, are these common symptoms of this disease?

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Burning sensation in chest may be due to acidity/reflux etc.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Dysphagia(problem in swallowing)to solid food is initial and commonest symptom of esophagus cancer.
You have mix symptoms and it is too early to conclude anything.

Burning sensation in chest may be due to acidity/reflux etc.
Problem in swallowing solid food may indicate esophageal problem etc.
As you also have chest and back pain,you may need proper clinical examination and routine investigations.
I suggests routine hemogram,random blood sugar,lipid profile,liver and renal function test,ultrasound of abdomen,Upper GI endoscopy.

Barium swallow may be advised after evaluation.Barium swallow only shows shape of inner lining of esophagus.

I suggest for upper GI endoscopy first.Besides oesophagus,it can also assess stomach and duodenum which may be the sites of gastric/peptic ulcer.
Biopsy can also be done during endoscopy.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your query.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee