The epidemiology of esophageal cancer.

The present paper examines the epidemiological aspects of cancers of the esophagus. Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. Large geographical and temporal variations in its incidence, even within small areas, suggest that environmental exposure is causally important. Smoking and alcohol consumption are major risk factors for esophageal cancer, and alcohol has been identified as a major cause of this neoplasm in industrialised countries. In addition to smoking and alcohol consumption, dietary habits are important risk determinants of this disease. Epidemiological evidence suggests that nutritional deficiencies and, possibly, ingestion of mycotoxins and nitrosamines are factors for the development of esophageal cancer.