Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

The relevant literature is reviewed in an attempt to clarify the true frequency of intraesophageal adenocarcinoma and to evaluate the different treatment modalities and survival of this uncommon type of tumor. The incidence of intraesophageal adenocarcinoma in reported clinical series is about 1%, and data from cancer registries show the incidence to be about 2% for upper and the middle thirds, a more reliable figure than that for the lower third in which lesions of cardia, or stomach infiltrating the lower esophagus have been included. The benefits of any particular treatment modality are difficult to evaluate in view of the rarity of this type of tumor, and the treatment results are as poor as those obtained in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma.