[Esophageal Adenocarcinoma - Appraisal of a Rapidly Increasing Disease]

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is dramatically increasing in several Western countries. In Germany, the incidence increased by sevenfold since 1991. The most important risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma are gastroesophageal reflux and obesity. Early diagnosis is possible within surveillance programs for Barrett metaplasia. Endoscopic resection is effective for diagnosis and curative treatment of early carcinoma. Esophagectomy is the central curative treatment modality for non-metastasized tumors exceeding the mucosal layer. Both neoadjuvant chemoradiation and perioperative chemotherapy are increasingly applied. Long term prognosis for locally advanced tumors improved to nearly 50 % five year survival.