Esophageal Cancer

Cancer of the esophagus is the thirteenth most common cancer and the seventh leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, resulting in approximately 500,000 deaths annually. Population-based 5-year survival has improved in recent decades but rarely exceeds 20%. The main histologic types of esophageal cancer, adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma, have different incidence patterns. The past four decades have witnessed a rapidly increasing incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in many Western countries, especially among White men, and a decreasing incidence of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. In contrast, the opposite is true for most other populations, in which esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma remains the most frequent form. This review focuses on recent developments in the epidemiologic characteristics, risk factors, prevention, and clinical management of esophageal cancer.