Esophageal Cancer

Eesophagus is the hollow, the muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat to the stomach. A wall of the esophagus is made up of several layers of tissue, including mucous membrane, muscle, and connective tissue. The Esophageal cancer starts at the inside lining of the esophagus and spreads outward through the other layers as it grows.

* A Squamous cell carcinoma: Cancer that forms in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the esophagus. This cancer is most often found of the upper and middle part of the esophagus, but can occur anywhere along the esophagus. This is also called epidermoid carcinoma.

* Adenocarcinoma: Cancer that begins in glandular (secretory) cells. Glandular cells in the lining of the esophagus produce and release fluids such as mucus. Adenocarcinomas usually form in the lower part of the esophagus, near the stomach.