Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer: quick reference guide

Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers

• Dysphagia - food sticking on swallowing (any age).
• Dyspepsia at any age combined with one or more of the following 'alarm' symptoms:
  • Weight loss.
  • Proven anaemia.
  • Vomiting.
• Dyspepsia >55 yrs with at least one 'high risk' feature:
  • Onset of dyspepsia less than one year ago.
  • Continuous symptoms since onset.
• Dyspepsia combined with at least one risk factor:
  • Family history of Upper GI cancer in more than two first degree relatives.
  • Family history of colorectal cancer (familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer).
  • Barrett's oesophagus.
  • Pernicious anaemia.
  • Peptic ulcer surgery over 20 years ago.
  • Known dysplasia, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia.
• Jaundice.
• Upper abdominal mass.
• Back pain and weight loss.