Benign tumors of the esophagus are mostly mesenchymal in origin and lie within the esophageal wall. Most common are benign tumors of smooth muscle origin, traditionally called leiomyomas and considered the benign end of a spectrum of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Fibromas, lipomas, hemangiomas, neurofibromas, and lymphangiomas also may arise. Mucosal polyps are usually composed of a combination of fibrous, vascular, or adipose tissue covered by an intact mucosa, descriptively titled fibrovascular polyps or pedunculated lipomas depending on their composition. Squamous papillomas are sessile lesions with a central core of connective tissue and a hyperplastic papilliform squamous mucosa. In rare instances, a mesenchymal mass of inflamed granulation tissue , called an inflammatory polyp, may resemble a malignant lesion, hence its alternative name inflammatory pseudotumor. Visit for



Malignant tumors

In the United States, carcinomas of the espophagus represent about 6% of all cancers of the gastrointestinal tract but cause a disproportionate number of cancer deaths. They remain asymptomatic during much of their development and are often discovered too late to permit cure. With rare exception, malignant esophageal cancers were of squamous cell origin, but there has been a declining incidence of these tumors coupled with a steadily increasing incidence of adenocarcinomas. Worldwide, squamous cell cancers constitute 90% of esophageal cancers, but in the United States squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma exhibit comparable incidence rates. Rare cancers (undifferentiated, carcinoid, malignant melanoma, and adenocarcinomas arising from the submucosal glands) are not discussed. Visit for

Squamous cell carcinoma

Most squamous cell carcinomas occur in over age 50. The malt to female ratio falls in the range of 2:1 While squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus occurs throughout the world, its incidence varies widely among countries and within regions of the same country. The region extending from northern Iran across central Asia to Northern China exhibits annual incidence rates exceeding 100 per 1,00,000 with deaths from cancer of the esophagus constituting more than 20% of all cancer deaths. Other areas of high incidence include Puerto Rico, South Africa, and Estern Europe. In the United states, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus affects 2 to 8 persons per 1,00,000 yearly and is predominately a disease of men. Blacks throughout the world are at higher risk than are whites, reaching a four fold higher incidence in the United States.