Esophageal cancer classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Overview

Esophageal cancer may be classified into squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma based on histology.

Classification

Esophageal cancers are typically carcinomas, which arise from the epithelium, or surface lining of the esophagus. Most esophageal cancers fall into one of two classes according to their histology. ^[1]

Squamous cell carcinoma
- Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are similar to head and neck cancer in their appearance and are associated with smoking and alcohol consumption.
Adenocarcinoma
- Esophageal adenocarcinomas make up more than 70% of esophageal cancers.
- They are often associated with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett’s esophagus.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma by Nephron – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12475495

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by Nephron – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31284085

References

↑ Buas MF, Vaughan TL (2013). “Epidemiology and risk factors for gastroesophageal junction tumors: understanding the rising incidence of this disease”. Semin Radiat Oncol. 23 (1): 3–9. doi:10.1016/j.semradonc.2012.09.008. PMC 3535292. PMID 23207041.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[pmid23207041-1] Buas MF, Vaughan TL (2013). “Epidemiology and risk factors for gastroesophageal junction tumors: understanding the rising incidence of this disease”. Semin Radiat Oncol. 23 (1): 3–9. doi:10.1016/j.semradonc.2012.09.008. PMC 3535292. PMID 23207041.

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