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What is Esophageal Cancer?
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Esophageal cancer is a malignant growth that begins in the esophagus, a thin-walled, muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the throat to the stomach. Located just behind the trachea (windpipe), the esophagus is approximately ten inches long, and consists of several distinct layers, including mucus membrane, connective tissue and muscle. Food and liquids are propelled through the esophagus by waves of rhythmic muscular contractions, a process known as peristalsis.
Esophageal cancer begins in the innermost layer of the esophagus and grows outward. As the cancer advances, it first spreads to the other layers of the esophagus and then into lymph nodes and contiguous organs such as the stomach. When left untreated, esophageal cancer can metastasize - or spread - to the bones and distant organs. Because it does not cause significant symptoms in the early stages, it's often missed until it has reached an advanced, difficult-to-treat stage.
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There are two major types of esophageal cancer, each accounting for approximately half of all cases: squamous cell cancer, which arises from the cells that form the top layer of the esophageal lining; and adenocarcinoma, which develops in the glandular tissue located in the lower one-third of the esophagus, near the juncture of the stomach. Adenocarcinoma can develop in people with a condition known as Barrett's Esophagus, in which the cells lining the lower esophagus change as a result of chronic acid regurgitation (reflux).
Esophageal cancer is relatively uncommon, although the incidence of adenocarcinoma has been rising dramatically in recent years. Approximately 13,000 people are diagnosed annually with esophageal cancer in the United States.
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