What Is Esophageal Cancer?
2. Adenocarcinoma
This is the second main type of esophageal cancer that arises in the mucus-secreting gland cells. It mostly appears in the lower portions of the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma occurs when squamous cells that line the passage begin to replace the mucus-secreting gland cells.
This replacement may occur as a result of damage to the gland cells by exposure to digestive acids that have escaped from the stomach, and this condition has been linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease. This cancer is more prevalent amongst Caucasian men in the U.S. While SCC cases have been on the decline, adenocarcinoma cases are on the rise.
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