Summary
Esophageal carcinoma is a malignant tumor resulting from the abnormal proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells. It is the third most frequent digestive cancer after colorectal cancer and gastric cancer. It is responsible for 4% of cancer deaths and represents the fourth most common mortal cancer in humans, after cancer of the lungs, colon, rectum and prostate. There are two types of primary malignant esophageal tumors: epidermoid carcinomas (80% of cases) occurring principally in the proximal two thirds of the esophagus and adenocarcinomas (20% of cases) occurring mainly in the distal third with a prevalence 20 times lower than that of the epidermoid carcinomas. Non-epithelial and secondary tumors are rare. Treatment is usually surgical but radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy may be indicated in some cases. *Author: Orphanet (January 2006)*.
