ESOPHAGEAL CANCER - CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FEATURES

Carcinoma of the esophagus remains one of the most lethal of all cance rs. In the past, squamous cell carcinomas accounted for over 95% of es ophageal malignancies. Over the past two decades, however, there has b een 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 squa mous cell and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.