ABSTRACT
Scope of the Problem In this Chapter, we will discuss squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma
of the esophagus from the level o f the cricopharyngeus muscle to the esophagogastric junction. This includes adenocarcinomas arising at the esophagogastric junction. Pharyngeal cancers and cancers o f the gastric cardia are excluded. Esophageal cancer before the 1980s referred not only to an anatomic location but also usually only to squamous cell carcinoma. In fact, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction were considered gastric cancers and were excluded from analysis or were treated as esophageal cancer without specific regard to the histology. Thus, comparison of modern data with historical data is difficult, especially when attempting to evaluate the outcome of these histologic types o f cancer.
