| [ Summary ] |
Esophageal cancer as a complication of achalasia and corrosive burn of the esophagus tends to develop in younger patients, and at a more uniform male to female ratio than in ordinary esophageal cancer cases. There have been various reports on the incidence of carcinoma, i.e. that approximate1y 1 to 7% of patients with achalasia and approximate1y 2 to 10% of those with corrosiveburn of the esophagus, develop malignancy. These finding suggest that both diseases are premalignant esophageal lesions. After these diseases have developed, Periodic surveil1ance of their progress contributes to early discovery of cancer and improves the prognosis. However, it takes 20 to 30 years for acha1asia, and 30 to 50 years for corrosive burn of the esophagus, to evolve into cancer. Therefore, physicians need to educate their patients that regarding the premalignant nature of these 1esions. In addition, physicians who observe the progress of these diseases must survey the lesions carefully. |