Esophageal malignancy: A growing concern

Figure 1 Top 10 leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer is the second highest one. Data extracted from World Health Organization documents. AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Figure 2 Top 10 of the most common cancers in men (up) and women (below) worldwide. Esophageal cancer is No. 7 in men. Data extracted from World Health Organization documents.

Figure 3 Geographic distribution of esophageal cancer. China is a hot spot. Data from World Health Organization documents.

Figure 4 Gastroesophageal reflux disease-induced esophagitis in human and rat (hematoxylin and eosin staining). Gastroesophageal reflux disease rats were created by surgically anastomosing the duodenum to the gastroesophageal junction. These rats can develop esophageal adenocarcinoma within a year, in a pathological sequence similar to human esophageal malignancy.

Figure 5 National Institute of Health expenditure on cancer-related studies in 2011. Esophageal cancer barely shows on the pie chart. Data from National Institute of Health documents.