The esophagus is a hollow tube located behind the trachea that connects the throat to the stomach. The muscles in the esophagus push food and liquids down to the stomach. There are also glands within the esophagus that produce mucus to keep it moist and assist in swallowing.
Esophageal cancer takes two main forms:
- Squamous cell carcinoma - Occurs in the squamous cells lining the esophagus
- Adenocarcinoma - Occurs in glandular tissue, most often in the lower part of the esophagus near the stomach. Adenocarcinoma is the predominate type of esophageal cancer in the United States.
Risk factors:
Risk factors for esophageal cancer include:
- Long-term smoking
- Long-term alcohol use
- Barrett's esophagus, a condition in which chronic irritation from acid reflux causes changes in the cells at the end of the esophagus
Symptoms:
Symptoms of esophageal cancer may include:
- Hoarseness
- Chronic cough sometimes accompanied by blood
- Difficulty / pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
- Throat or back pain
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Hiccups
Treatment Surgery (esophagectomy) is the most common form of treatment for esophageal cancer. The surgeon will remove the tumor, the affected area of the esophagus and nearby lymph nodes.
In addition, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used in conjunction with surgery on a preoperative and/or postoperative basis.
The Multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Oncology Center also offers clinical trials for patients with more complex stomach cancers.