This study aims to investigate the knowledge of rural general practitioners (GPs) in esophageal cancer (EC) prevention and treatment in China and analyze relevant influencing factors, so as to improve the ability of rural GPs in EC prevention and treatment.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 5, 2021, to November 20, 2021. A self-designed questionnaire was used to conduct an online survey. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify the influencing factors of knowledge proficiency of GPs in rural China for EC prevention and treatment.

This study included 348 participants from 12 rural areas in Hebei Province. The mean accuracy rate on all question items was 42.3% ± 10.67%. Sex (OR = 2.870, 95% CI: 1.519–5.423), educational level (OR = 3.256, 95% CI: 1.135–9.339), and comprehension of clinical practice guidelines for EC (OR = 4.305, 95% CI: 2.023–9.161) were significant predictors for GPs’ knowledge proficiency of EC prevention and treatment (P < 0.05).

The study indicated that knowledge proficiency of rural GPs of EC prevention and control still awaits to be improved. Sex, educational level, and comprehension of clinical practice guidelines for EC were significant predictors for their proficiency.

The radiotherapy techniques are evolving. Besides optimal tumour coverage, considering organs at risk (OAR) is pertinent to radiation oncologists. In mid-lower esophageal cancer (MLEC) radiotherapy, heart is the main OAR. Studies on excess absolute risk (EAR) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in MLEC radiotherapy are limited in the main literature. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the EAR of CVD in patients with MLEC treated with the intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique.

Family history of heart disease and smoking increased the EAR of CVD significantly compared to the cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. The 10-year EAR of the high-risk group was more than four times of the low-risk group at all ages. In the low-risk group, EAR of CVD after radiotherapy of esophageal cancer can increase by up to 9·1%, while in the high-risk group, EAR increased by 34·89%.

Adding the baseline CVD risk factors improved the estimation of EAR of heart disease after MLEC radiotherapy with the IMRT technique.

To explore the risk factors associated with the occurrence of synchronous oesophageal cancer in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, and to investigate the roles of image-enhanced endoscopic screening in the prediction and diagnosis of early oesophageal cancer.

The clinical characteristics of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (n = 160) were analysed. All patients underwent laryngoscopic and gastroscopic examination using image-enhanced endoscopic techniques before treatment.

Of 160 hypopharyngeal cancer patients, 43 (27 per cent) had synchronous oesophageal cancer. Heavy drinking (odds ratio = 4.787, p = 0.029) and local invasion of three or more anatomical sites (odds ratio = 14.391, p = 0.000) were independent risk factors for synchronous oesophageal cancer. Narrow-band imaging laryngoscopy could detect more invaded anatomical sites than ordinary white light endoscopy (t = 8.532, p = 0.000). More early oesophageal cancer cases were detected with Lugol chromoendoscopy than with non-Lugol iodine staining examination (χ2 = 4.925, p = 0.026).

Synchronous oesophageal cancer is common in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. The heavy drinking patients with hypopharyngeal cancer should undergo intensive monitoring. Image-enhanced endoscopic screening is helpful in the prediction and early detection of second primary oesophageal cancer.