Esophageal cancer. Clinical and pathologic features.

Carcinoma of the esophagus remains one of the most lethal of all cancers. In the past, squamous cell carcinomas accounted for over 95% of esophageal malignancies. Over the past two decades, however, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma arising in columnar cell-lined Barrett's mucosa, accounting for up to 34% of all esophageal cancers in some areas. This article discusses the different demographic, pathologic, therapeutic, and prognostic features of squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.