Vietnam medical cases highlight importance of early disease detection

Medical professionals in Vietnam have highlighted the critical importance of early diagnosis through two recent clinical cases.

A 49-year-old man in Vinh Long was treated at Xuyen A Vinh Long General Hospital after presenting with fatigue, chest pain, and coughing up bright red blood. Diagnostic tests, including X-rays and bronchoscopy, revealed pulmonary tuberculosis accompanied by pneumonia. Following a treatment regimen of anti-tuberculosis drugs, antibiotics, and hemostatic medication, the patient's condition improved significantly.

In a separate case, a 53-year-old man from Hanoi was diagnosed with early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma during a routine health checkup. Despite having no typical symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty swallowing, advanced endoscopy technology (NBI) allowed doctors at the Medlatec Digestive Center to identify high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Early detection is noted as vital, as five-year survival rates for esophageal cancer can exceed 70–90% when caught early, compared to only 15% if diagnosed at a late stage.