Mass next to esophagus

Posted By Barbara on August 07, 1998 at 15:37:50:







I'm not sure I'm posting in the right area, nor do I want to be here,
so please move my question to a more appropriate folder if necessary.
I am 38 and had an MRI of the cervical spine a few weeks ago after
having symptoms common to MS. Although the MRI did not find any lesions,
it did pick up a mass in the T-4 area next to the esophagus,
totally unrealated to my
neurological symptoms. On the radiologist's advice,
I had a CT scan (with contrast and with barium swallow)
to further study it. His conclusion is that he's 95% sure it's been
there since birth. It's about 3/4 inch long up against the right
side of the esophagus. He called said it may be the beginnings of
a second esophagus. If so, what is this condition called? I've
never noticed any symptoms from it. Could it produce any in the
future?
If it's a tumor, what are the chances it would be malignant? Would
this mean esophogeal cancer? I have never smoked and am relatively
young. The radiologist said it would be very major surgery to
remove it since they'd have to crack open my ribs. Isn't there
something less invasive, even to biopsy it?
The radiologist's advice is to wait for 6-12 months and get another
CT scan to see if it has changed. Is that what you would prescribe?
How worried should I be? I was worried enough about possible MS before,
and I certainly don't want a cancer scare on top of that.
Thank you for your help.