Esophageal adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma: retrospective hospital-based analysis of a 12-year temporal trend

There is a paucity of literature from the Indian subcontinent looking at the prevalence of esophageal cancer by histological type. In our study, we ascertained the relative proportion and location of adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus at a referral hospital in Mumbai, India over a 12-year period to assess whether a time-trend existed. A retrospective analysis was carried out on patients who were diagnosed with and/or treated for esophageal cancer at the P D Hinduja Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2011. Data were procured from histopathology and oncology registers of the institute, the database of the Gastroenterology consultants, the Endoscopy Department records and from the Medical Records Department. Of the 445 cases of esophageal cancer with known histology, 104 (23 %) were AC and 314 (71 %) were SCC. Over the 12-year period, the proportions of AC compared to SCC did not show a statistically significant temporal change (p = 0.145). AC comprised nearly a quarter of esophageal carcinoma in Mumbai. There has been no significant change in the number and proportion of AC and SCC in the 12-year period.