ABSTRACT
The esophagus is affected predominantly by two histologic types of cancer: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). These two types account for nearly 95" of esophageal cancers, although sarcomas, small cell carcinomas, lymphomas, and carcinoids may occur in the esophagus as well. Dysphagia is the most common presenting symptom of esophageal cancer. Patients suspected of esophageal cancer should be examined by esophagogastroduodenoscopy to allow for endoscopic visualization and biopsy. Once a diagnosis of esophageal cancer is established with tissue specimen, a preoperative staging evaluation is performed and tumor is then classified using the universal tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer in order to determine the appropriate treatment pathway. Treatment selection for esophageal cancer is based on TNM staging criteria. The overall 5-year survival for esophageal cancer ranges from 15" to 25" with better outcomes in patients diagnosed with earlier stage of disease.
