Oesophageal cancer

The changing pattern of occurrence of oesophageal cancer is reviewed. Major features include marked decreases in rates among Chinese (in whom most oesophageal cancer is seen globally) as lifestyle changes, on migration or more recently in the People's Republic; steady increases among USA blacks; an indication that traditional extremely high rates in central Asia may be declining; a slow decline in many countries as lifestyles change, and diets presumably improve, seen in such diverse areas as Finland, India and parts of Latin America; a recent upturn in certain male populations, parallel to the increase in alcohol consumption.