Endoscopic Screening for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus.

Although the relative incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been declining steadily in the United States and Europe compared to that of adenocarcinoma (1,2); esophageal SCC continues to be the more common form of esophageal malignancy worldwide (3). There are approx 6000 new cases of esophageal SCC diagnosed in the United States annually (4). The global incidence and gender ratio vary widely according to geographic region, likely reflecting environmental and dietary factors more than genetic predisposition. Several risk factors for esophageal SCC have been identified, making screening a potential option for specific populations. This chapter outlines conditions or behaviors that are strongly associated with this malignancy, describes methods for improving the endoscopic detection of early squamous cell dysplasia, and suggests specific instances in which screening for esophageal SCC may be appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]