---
title: "Internal Medicine Board-style Case: Dysphagia and Weight Loss"
description: "Internal Medicine board-style dysphagia case: approach, key clues, and exam-style rationale for progressive dysphagia with weight loss."
---

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# [Internal Medicine Board-style Case: Dysphagia and Weight Loss](https://challengercme.com/blog/a-61-year-old-man-presents-with-dysphagia-and-weight-loss)

 Written by [Med-Challenger](https://challengercme.com/blog/author/med-challenger) | Feb 17, 2025 3:50:15 PM

Board-style vignette to practice recognition and initial diagnostic approach to progressive dysphagia with weight loss; focus on high-yield clues, differential prioritization, and exam answer strategy for Internal Medicine boards.

A 61-year-old man presents with dysphagia and weight loss. On esophagogram, he is found to have a suspicious ulceration (see Figure). Subsequent endoscopy and biopsy reveal adenocarcinoma at the gastroesophageal junction (see Figure).

*Figure.*

Which of the following represents a well-known risk of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus?

- Helicobacter pylori infection
- cigarette smoking
- long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- achalasia
- alcohol use

This question appears in [Med-Challenger Internal Medicine Exam Review with CME](https://challengercme.com/internal-medicine-exam-review-cme-course)

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