What is the cause of esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a common tumor. The incidence of esophageal cancer in my country ranks among the top in the world. Many people who have esophageal cancer feel depressed because the esophagus is a tube connecting the pharynx and the stomach. Malignant tumors growing here are one of the common malignant tumors. The exact cause of esophageal cancer is unknown. Obviously, the environment and certain carcinogens are important pathogenic factors. Today we will talk about this knowledge in detail.

1. Genetic factors

The incidence of esophageal cancer often shows a family clustering phenomenon. According to a survey in Shanxi, Shandong, Henan and other provinces in my country, about 1/4 to 1/2 of the patients have a positive family history. In high-incidence areas, the proportion of patients with a positive family history is high, with the highest proportion in the paternal line, the second highest in the maternal line, and the lowest in the collateral line.

(ii) Malnutrition and trace element deficiency

Insufficient intake of animal protein and deficiency of vitamins A, B2, and C are common characteristics of the diet of residents in areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer. However, esophageal cancer is not common in most areas with a high incidence of malnutrition, so this cannot be a dominant factor.

3. Esophageal injury, esophageal disease, and food irritation

Esophageal injury and certain esophageal diseases can trigger esophageal cancer. The incidence of esophageal cancer is higher in patients with corrosive esophageal burns and stenosis, esophageal achalasia, esophageal diverticulum or reflux esophagitis than in the general population. It is speculated that it is due to long-term chronic inflammation, ulcers, or chronic irritation caused by retention in the esophagus, which leads to esophageal epithelial hyperplasia and finally cancer. Epidemiological surveys have found that residents in areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer have the habit of eating very hot food, drinking strong alcohol, eating a lot of pepper, chewing betel nuts or tobacco. These chronic physical and chemical irritations of the esophageal mucosa can cause local epithelial cell hyperplasia. Animal experiments have shown that diffuse or focal epithelial hyperplasia may be a precancerous lesion of esophageal cancer.

(IV) Nitrosamines and mycotoxins

It is now known that nearly 30 types of nitrosamines can induce animal tumors. In China, nitrosamine methylbenzylamine, nitrosamine ethylsarcosine, nitrosamine methylpentylamine, nitrosamine and diethylhexylamine have been successfully used to induce esophageal cancer in rats. A survey in my country found that the content of nitrates, nitrites and secondary amines in food and drinking water in high-incidence areas has increased significantly, and is positively correlated with the incidence of esophageal cancer and severe esophageal epithelial hyperplasia. These substances are easy to synthesize carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach.

The location of esophageal cancer lesions varies from region to region in my country, but the most common location is in the middle segment (52.69% to 63.33%), followed by the lower segment (24.95% to 38.92%), and the least common location is in the upper segment (2.80% to 14.0%). Among the 622 cases in our hospital, 68.90% were in the middle segment, 26.40% in the lower segment, and 4.70% in the upper segment.

The above is an introduction to the causes of esophageal cancer. Experts suggest: If you have symptoms of disease, do not delay diagnosis and go to a regular hospital for treatment in time to avoid delaying the disease and causing serious consequences. If you have other questions, please consult our online experts or call for consultation. Feihua Health Network has always been by your side to care about your health.

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