Causes of Esophagus Cancer
Esophagus Cancer Causes: Book Excerpts
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Related information on causes of Esophagus Cancer:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Esophagus Cancer may be found in:
Causes of Esophagus Cancer: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Esophagus Cancer.
Introduction: Malignant Neoplasms:
What causes cancer?
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Researchers have found that cancer develops from mutations within the genes of cells. Thus, cancer is a genetic disease. Cancer susceptibility genes are of two types. Some are oncogenes, which activate cell division and influence embryonic development, and some are tumor suppressor genes, which halt cell division.
These genes are typically found in normal human cells, but certain kinds of mutations may transform the normal cells. Inherited defects may cause a genetic mutation, whereas exposure to a carcinogen may cause an acquired mutation. Current evidence indicates that carcinogenesis results from a complex interaction of carcinogens and accumulated mutations in several genes.
In animal studies of the ability of viruses to transform cells, some human viruses exhibit carcinogenic potential. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of infectious mononucleosis, has been linked to Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal cancer.
High-frequency radiation, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, damages the genetic material known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), possibly inducing genetically transferable abnormalities. Other factors, such as a person's tissue type and hormonal status, interact to potentiate radiation's carcinogenic effect. Examples of substances that may damage DNA and induce carcinogenesis include:
❑alkylating agents — leukemia
❑aromatic hydrocarbons and benzopyrene (from polluted air) — lung cancer
❑asbestos — mesothelioma of the lung
❑tobacco — cancer of the lung, oral cavity and upper airways, esophagus, pancreas, kidneys, and bladder
❑vinyl chloride — angiosarcoma of the liver.
Diet has also been implicated, especially in the development of GI cancer as a result of a high animal fat diet. Additives composed of nitrates and certain methods of food preparation — particularly charbroiling — are also recognized factors.
The role of hormones in carcinogenesis is still controversial, but it seems that excessive use of some hormones, especially estrogen, produces cancer in animals. Also, the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol causes vaginal cancer in some daughters of women who were treated with it. It's unclear, however, whether changes in human hormonal balance retard or stimulate cancer development.
Some forms of cancer and precancerous lesions result from genetic predisposition either directly (as in Wilms' tumor and retinoblastoma) or indirectly (in association with inherited conditions such as Down syndrome or immunodeficiency diseases). Expressed as autosomal recessive, X-linked, or autosomal dominant disorders, their common characteristics include:
❑early onset of malignant disease
❑increased incidence of bilateral cancer in paired organs (breasts, adrenal glands, kidneys, and eighth cranial nerve [acoustic neuroma])
❑increased incidence of multiple primary malignancies in nonpaired organs
❑abnormal chromosome complement in tumor cells.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Laryngeal cancer:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
In laryngeal cancer, major predisposing factors include smoking and alcoholism; minor factors include chronic inhalation of noxious fumes and familial tendency. Cancer of the larynx rarely occurs in nonsmokers.
Laryngeal cancer is classified according to its location:
❑supraglottis (false vocal cords)
❑glottis (true vocal cords)
❑subglottis (downward extension from vocal cords [rare]).
The ratio of male to female incidence is 3.8:1. Most victims are between ages 50 and 65.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal cancer:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The cause of esophageal cancer is unknown, but among predisposing factors are chronic irritation caused by heavy smoking and excessive use of alcohol, stasis-induced inflammation, nutritional deficiency, and diets high in nitrosamines. A genetic link has been proposed concerning an overexpression and mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Esophageal tumors are usually fungating and infiltrating. Most arise in squamous cell epithelium. However, the number of adenocarcinomas is greatly rising in the United States. Melanomas and sarcomas are few.
Regardless of type, esophageal cancer is usually fatal, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 10% and regional metastasis occurring early via submucosal lymphatics. Metastasis produces such serious complications as tracheoesophageal fistulas, mediastinitis, and aortic perforation. Common sites of distant metastasis include the liver and lungs. (See Staging esophageal cancer.)
Esophageal cancer most commonly develops in men older than age 60 and is nearly always fatal. This disease occurs worldwide, but incidence varies geographically. It's most common in Japan, China, the Middle East, and parts of South Africa.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant spinal neoplasms:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Primary tumors of the spinal cord may be extramedullary (occurring outside the spinal cord) or intramedullary (occurring within the cord itself). Extramedullary tumors may be intradural (meningiomas and schwannomas), which account for 60% of all primary malignant spinal cord neoplasms, or extradural (metastatic tumors from breasts, lungs, prostate, leukemia, or lymphomas), which account for 25% of these malignant neoplasms.
Intramedullary tumors, or gliomas (astrocytomas or ependymomas), are comparatively rare, accounting for only about 10%. In children, they're low-grade astrocytomas.
Spinal cord tumors are rare compared with intracranial tumors (ratio of 1:4). They occur equally in men and women, with the exception of meningiomas, which occur mostly in women. Spinal cord tumors can occur anywhere along the length of the cord or its roots.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Esophageal diverticula:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Esophageal diverticula are due to primary muscular abnormalities that may be congenital or to inflammatory processes adjacent to the esophagus. Zenker’s diverticulum occurs when the pouch results from increased intraesophageal pressure; traction diverticulum occurs when the pouch is pulled out by adjacent inflamed tissue or lymph nodes. Some authorities classify all diverticula as traction diverticula.
Zenker’s diverticulum results from developmental muscular weakness of the posterior pharynx above the border of the cricopharyngeal muscle. The pressure of swallowing aggravates this weakness, as does contraction of the pharynx before relaxation of the sphincter. A midesophageal (traction) diverticulum is a response to scarring and pulling on esophageal walls by an external inflammatory process such as tuberculosis. An epiphrenic diverticulum (rare) is generally right-sided and usually accompanies an esophageal motor disturbance, such as esophageal spasm or achalasia. It’s thought to be caused by traction and pulsation.
Most diverticula occur in middle-aged and elderly patients. Zenker’s diverticula most commonly in patients older than age 50 and are especially prevalent in patients in their 70s and 80s.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Laryngeal cancer:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
With laryngeal cancer, major predisposing factors include smoking and alcoholism; minor factors include chronic inhalation of noxious fumes and familial tendency.
Laryngeal cancer is classified according to its location:
❑ supraglottis (false vocal cords)
❑ glottis (true vocal cords)
❑ subglottis (downward extension from the vocal cords [rare]).
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal cancer:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
The cause of esophageal cancer is unknown, but predisposing factors include chronic irritation caused by heavy smoking and excessive use of alcohol, stasis-induced inflammation, and nutritional deficiency. Esophageal tumors are usually fungating and infiltrating. Most arise in squamous cell epithelium, a few are adenocarcinomas, and fewer still are melanomas and sarcomas.
Esophageal cancer has a 5-year survival rate below 10%, and regional metastasis occurs early by way of submucosal lymphatics. Metastasis produces such serious complications as tracheoesophageal fistulas, mediastinitis, and aortic perforation. Common sites of distant metastasis include the liver and lungs.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Esophageal diverticula:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
Esophageal diverticula are caused by either primary muscle abnormalities that may be congenital or inflammatory processes adjacent to the esophagus.
Zenker’s diverticulum
When the pouch results from increased intraesophageal pressure, Zenker’s diverticulum occurs. It’s caused by developmental muscle weakness of the posterior pharynx above the border of the cricopharyngeal muscle. The pressure of swallowing aggravates this weakness, as does contraction of the pharynx before relaxation of the sphincter.
Traction diverticulum
When the pouch is pulled out by adjacent inflamed tissue or lymph nodes, a midesophageal (traction) diverticulum occurs. It’s a response to scarring and pulling on esophageal walls by an external inflammatory process such as tuberculosis. It’s diagnosed as an incidental finding on a barium esophagogram and is usually asymptomatic. No specific treatment is indicated.
Epiphrenic diverticulum
This diverticulum occurs within the distal 4" (10 cm) of the esophagus. It’s a pulsion diverticulum that’s caused by abnormally elevated pressure within the lumen of the esophagus.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Eosinophilic Esophagitis:
Eosinophilic Esophagitis - pathophysiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
The pathophysiology of EE is unknown; however, it has been linked to an allergic response to food antigens that does not follow a typical IgE mediated pattern. As of 2003, the incidence and prevalence of EE in children 0–19 years of age is thought to be respectively 1 and 4.3 per 10,000 children.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
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