Malignant tumors of the esophagus

Abstract

Carcinoma of the esophagus is the 10th leading cause of cancer deaths in North America. The incidence varies considerably from 5 per 100,000 in most Western countries to as high as 100 per 100,000 in some countries such as Iran, Japan, China, and other countries in the esophageal cancer belt. The estimated 5-year survival for cancer of the esophagus is 10%. Adenocarcinoma, previously rare, is increasing in incidence in Western countries by approximately 5%-10% per year1,2 and is now the dominant cell type in patients in North America and Europe, although squamous cell carcinoma still dominates globally. In a recent series of patients with esophageal cancer from the Mayo Clinic, 3 adenocarcinoma was present in 85.5%. Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell cancer account for almost all cases. Leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma, small-cell carcinoma, and melanoma occur rarely. © 2008 Springer New York.