Cancer that occurs in the oesophagus – a hollow long tube that transfer the food from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus and stomach are part of the upper gastrointestinal (digestive) system.
Esophageal cancer usually begins in the cells lining the inside of the esophagus before spreading outwards through the other layers as it grows.
The two most common forms of esophageal cancer are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (Epidermoid carcinoma) - Squamous cells are thin, flat cells lining the esophagus. This cancer is mostly found in the upper and middle part of the esophagus, but can also occur anywhere along the esophagus.
- Adenocarcinoma - Glandular cells are secretory cells lining the esophagus and they produce and release fluids such as mucus. This cancer usually starts in the lower part of the esophagus, closer to the stomach.