To analyze the epidemiological features of
patients with
esophageal cancer according to the histopathological types
squamous cell carcinoma or
adenocarcinoma.
METHODS:
A total of 100
patients with
esophageal cancer, being 50
squamous cell carcinomas and 50
adenocarcinomas were analyzed for demographics, nutritional factors,
lifestyle habits, benign pathological conditions associated, like
Barrett's esophagus and
megaesophagus,
tumor stage and
survival rates. The nutritional factors evaluated included
body mass index, percent
weight loss,
hemoglobin and
albumin serum levels.
Esophageal cancer occurred more often in
men over 50 years-old in both histological groups. No significant differences on age and
gender were found between the histological groups.
Squamous cell carcinoma was significantly more frequent in
blacks than
adenocarcinoma.
Alcohol consumption and
smoking were significantly associated with
squamous cell carcinoma. Higher values of
body mass index were seen in
patients with
adenocarcinoma.
Barrett's esophagus was found in nine
patients (18%) with
adenocarcinoma, and
megaesophagus in two
patients (4%) with
squamous cell carcinoma. The majority of
patients were on stages III and IV in both histological groups. The mean
survival rates were 7.7 ± 9.5 months for
patients with
squamous cell carcinoma and 8.0 ± 10.9 months for
patients with
adenocarcinoma. No significant differences on
tumor stage and
survival rates were detected between the histological groups. Epidemiological features are distinct for the histopathological types of
esophageal cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with black
race, alcohol and
smoking, while
adenocarcinoma is related to higher
body mass index,
white race and
Barrett's esophagus.(AU)