Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that transports food from the throat to the stomach.

There are two main types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma arises from glandular cells that are present at the junction of the esophagus and stomach.

Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case esophageal cells) divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread.