In esophageal cancer – colloquially called esophageal cancer – (synonyms: Abdominal esophageal carcinoma; Barrett’s carcinoma; Barrett’s esophagus; malignant neoplasm of the pars abdominalis of the esophagus; malignant neoplasm of the pars cervicalis of the esophagus; malignant neoplasm of the pars thoracica of the esophagus; malignant neoplasm of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of abdominal esophagus; malignant neoplasm of distal third of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of upper third of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of proximal third of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of thoracic esophagus; malignant neoplasm of lower third of esophagus; malignant neoplasm of cervical esophagus; distal esophageal carcinoma; esophageal basalioma; esophageal cancer; esophageal carcinoma; thoracic esophageal carcinoma; cervical esophageal carcinoma; ICD-10-GM C15. -: Malignant neoplasm of the esophagus) is a malignant neoplasm (malignant neoplasm) in the esophagus.
Esophageal carcinomas are divided into:
- Squamous cell carcinoma/esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) – 80% in Germany, 40% in the U.S.
- Adenocarcinoma/adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (Esophageal adenocarcinoma, EAC) (Barrett’s carcinoma; precursor of adenocarcinoma is Barrett’s esophagus) – 20% in Germany, 60% in the US.
Sex ratio: males to females is 5: 1.
Frequency peak: the disease occurs predominantly in the 6th decade of life. The maximum incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is 55 years and adenocarcinoma is 65 years.
The incidence (frequency of new cases) is approximately 3-8 cases per 100,000 population per year (in Europe). Incidence rates are high in parts of France (e.g., Calvados, Alsace), northern China, Mordiran, Turkmenistan, South Africa, and Chile.
Course and prognosis: Prognosis depends on the size of the tumor as well as its location, whether and how far it has spread, the age of the patient, and the patient’s general health. In general, the prognosis is poor. At the time of diagnosis, the majority of cases are already in an advanced stage. Often surgery is then no longer possible and therapeutic measures are palliative (without a curative approach). Only about 10% of cases are diagnosed at stage I.
Survival of squamous cell carcinoma (mainly due to consumption of nicotine and alcohol) is worse than that of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
The 5-year survival rate for all patients is less than 10%, since only 30% of stage I and IIA esophageal carcinomas are detected and thus can be operated on curatively (“curatively”). After complete removal of the tumor, the 5-year survival rate is approximately 20% (40% in centers). Survival rarely exceeds six months with palliative therapy.
