How is esophageal cancer classified according to WHO?

Esophageal cancer is classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) based on its histological type and stage. The WHO classification differentiates two main types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC). SCC usually develops in the upper and middle thirds of the esophagus and is commonly associated with risk factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. AC, on the other hand, primarily arises in the lower third of the esophagus and is often associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obesity. Once the histological type is determined, WHO further classifies esophageal cancer based on the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, and whether it has spread to distant organs or not, which helps in staging the disease and determining the appropriate treatment approach.

This mind map was published on 26 January 2024 and has been viewed 97 times.