Epidemiology and histopathological features of esophageal cancer.

Introduction: Esophageal cancer is the 6th most common cause of cancer death in the world. During the past two decades some changes have occurred in histologic type and primary tumor location in some parts of the world but there is a little information about histopathological aspect of disease in Iran. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the features of histopathological of esophageal cancer in Iran.

Methods: This study designed as a cross sectional study. Data analysis was performed with descriptive and univariate methods. Information required for this study extracted from cancer registry forms. The cases were all patients who received a histopathological diagnosis of EC that were referred to this center from January 2003 to October 2008.

Results: A total of 264 EC cases were recruited in the study the lower third of the esophagus was the most frequent site of origin of these tumors. Squamus cell carcinoma was commonest histologic type of tumor. In 15.2% of cases tumor was metastasis to other organs. In 46.6% were in advanced stage at diagnosis.

Discussion: Based on result of present study, esophageal cancer in our country more presented in Squamus cell carcinoma histology type, in advanced stage. Since Squamus cell carcinoma have a poorer prognosis and given that these patients have vague symptomatology for approximately several months, therefore, early diagnosis and treatment led to better prognosis.