The esophagus is the portion of the digestive tract that links the throat to the stomach and is located between the trachea and the spine. The primary function of the muscular tube is to move food along its tract so that the digestive process may be completed in other portions of the body. Cancer of the esophagus can greatly hinder this task, often making swallowing difficult and painful.

Other symptoms of esophageal carcinoma may include vomiting, repeated choking during meals, indigestion, heartburn, coughing, hoarseness, and pain in the throat or behind the breastbone. Frequently such symptoms only appear in the latter stages of the disease, a fact that makes esophageal cancer extremely difficult to diagnose early. Consequently, the disease has a very poor prognosis, less than 13 percent of all patients surviving more than five years after their diagnosis.

In the United States, esophageal cancer is relatively rare, accounting for only about one percent of all cancer cases. The disease is significantly more common among African Americans than white Americans and among men than women. Cancer of the esophagus is especially prevalent in certain parts of the world, such as northern China, southern Africa, and Iran. The two most common types of esophageal cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, which originates in the squamous cells lining the esophagus, and adenocarcinoma, which develops in the glandular cells lining the organ. Depending on the kind of cancer an individual has, the location of growths tends to vary.

The precise causes of esophageal carcinoma have not yet been identified, though researchers have found a number of factors that increase the risk of developing the disease. In the United States, smoking and heavy alcohol use are primary risk factors, but other dynamics may play a much larger role in the incidence of cancer of the esophagus in other countries. Some studies suggest that diet may be involved in some cases of the cancer's onset, so good nutrition, including the consumption of lots of fruits and vegetables, is commonly believed to help stave off the disease. In other instances, prior damage to the esophagus is believed to have contributed to tumor growth.

Individuals who are suspected of having esophageal carcinoma generally undergo a number of tests, which may include x-rays, esophagoscopy, biopsy, computed tomography (CT) scans, and ultrasound exams, so that a definitive diagnosis can be made and the extent of the disease, if found, may be determined. Based upon this information, the most suitable treatment options can be established and initiated. Whenever possible, treatment usually involves surgery, since all malignant cells, if localized to a small area, can be removed through such means, resulting in a long-term cure. Nevertheless, surgeries involving the esophagus are generally very complex and complications can often ensue.

Esophageal Carcinoma at 20x Magnification - Squamous cell carcinomas more frequently occur in the middle to upper portions of the esophagus, while adenocarcinomas are much more likely to affect the lower portions of the tube located in close proximity to the stomach.

Esophageal Carcinoma at 10x Magnification - Individuals with a history that includes the accidental consumption of caustic substances or chronic gastric reflux that resulted in a condition termed Barrett's esophagus have an abnormally high risk of experiencing esophageal carcinoma.

Esophageal Carcinoma at 20x Magnification - When surgery is not suitable for a particular case of esophageal cancer, chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be utilized alone or in conjunction with one another. These techniques are not curative, but can shrink tumors and alleviate some symptoms of the disease.