Malignant tumors of the esophagus, which carries food from the throat to the stomach, tend to develop slowly and often cause no symptoms in the early stage. Later, symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of food, coughing, persistent indigestion, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
The cause of is unknown, but risk factors include smoking, prolonged excessive alcohol consumption, being overweight, an unhealthy diet low in fruit and vegetables, and persistent gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Treatment is usually with surgery to remove the cancer, and a tube (stent) may be inserted to keep the esophagus open and allow swallowing.
