ESOPHAGEAL CANCER IN PAKISTAN –IS IT REALLY EXTENSION OF ASIAN CANCER BELT

Esophageal Cancer in Pakistan

Abstract

Esophageal cancer ranks as the 6th most frequent cancer world over with 412,000 new cases every year1. Esophagus, a muscular tube beginning at the crico-pharyngeus traversing through the neck and mediastinum to take the food to the stomach, has cancer occurring in the middle and lower third with cervical esophagus an uncommon site. Most common symptom is progressive dysphagia accompanied by chest pain, burning and frequent choking on food resulting in weight loss. Esophagus has such pliability that dysphagia does not occur until the lumen is obstructed by about 75% which results in advanced stage at presentation and a high mortality.