Oesophageal carcinoma

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 381; no. 9864; pp. 400 - 412
• Main Authors: Pennathur, Arjun, MD, Gibson, Michael K, MD, Jobe, Blair A, Prof, Luketich, James D, Prof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 02.02.2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - etiology; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - etiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Chemoradiotherapy; Dysphagia; Endosonography; Epidemiology; Esophageal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Esophageal Neoplasms - etiology; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - therapy; Esophagectomy; General aspects; Histology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Lymph Node Excision; Medical sciences; Men; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Staging; Obesity; Positron-Emission Tomography; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic factors; Throat; Tobacco; Weight control; Women; United Kingdom > UK; France; Australia; Finland; Medicine; Digestive diseases; Esophagus carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Esophageal disease; Cancer
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60643-6

Summary Oesophageal carcinoma affects more than 450 000 people worldwide and the incidence is rapidly increasing. Squamous-cell carcinoma is the predominant form of oesophageal carcinoma worldwide, but a shift in epidemiology has been seen in Australia, the UK, the USA, and some western European countries (eg, Finland, France, and the Netherlands), where the incidence of adenocarcinoma now exceeds that of squamous-cell types. The overall 5-year survival of patients with oesophageal carcinoma ranges from 15% to 25%. Diagnoses made at earlier stages are associated with better outcomes than those made at later stages. In this Seminar we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and staging, management, prevention, and advances in the treatment of oesophageal carcinoma.