Esophageal cancer pathophysiology
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Pathophysiology
Microscopic pathology
Most tumors of the esophagus are malignant. A very small proportion (under 10%) is leiomyoma (smooth muscle tumor) or gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Malignant tumors are generally adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and occasionally small-cell carcinomas. The latter share many properties with small-cell lung cancer, and are relatively sensitive to chemotherapy compared to the other types.