What Are the Risk Factors for the Development of Esophageal Cancer?

It is estimated that nearly 16,500 patients (12,900 men and 3600 women) were diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2009, with 14,500 dying from the disease. 1 This is a 460% increase in the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma for White men and 335% for White women since 1970. In contrast, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is declining in incidence. In the 1960s, squamous cell carcinoma accounted for nearly 90% of esophageal malignancies. However, adenocarcinoma presently accounts for more than 60% of the new cases. Mortality associated with esophageal cancer is related to the stage of disease at presentation, with 5-year survival rates of 35% for localized disease and 3% for metastatic disease.