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Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the
tissues of the esophagus. See review on evaluation here.
The esophagus is the hollow, muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat to
the stomach. The wall of the esophagus is made up of several layers of tissue, including
mucous membrane, muscle, and connective tissue. Esophageal cancer starts at the inside
lining of the esophagus and spreads outward through the other layers as it grows.
The role of diet here. The two most common forms of esophageal cancer are named for the type of cells that become malignant (cancerous): * Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that forms in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the esophagus. This cancer is most often found in the upper and middle part of the esophagus, but can occur anywhere along the esophagus. This is also called epidermoid carcinoma. * Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in glandular (secretory) cells. Glandular cells in the lining of the esophagus produce and release fluids such as mucus. Adenocarcinomas usually form in the lower part of the esophagus, near the stomach. |
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