How many types of tumors are there in the esophagus? Is it esophageal cancer?

When a tumor grows in the esophagus, many people's first reaction is, is it esophageal cancer? Esophageal cancer is a primary malignant tumor of the esophageal epithelium. my country has always been a country with a high incidence of esophageal cancer in the world, and is also one of the countries with a high mortality rate from esophageal cancer in the world. Tumors can be divided into malignant tumors and benign tumors. In addition to esophageal cancer, there are also some benign tumors in the esophagus, and sometimes its symptoms and imaging manifestations are really similar to esophageal cancer. However, before we reach the pathological criteria, how do we distinguish between benign lesions occurring in the smooth muscle tissue under the esophageal mucosa. Some leiomyomas originate from the muscular layer of the esophageal mucosa, while others originate from the muscular layer proper.

1. Esophageal leiomyoma. Most gastroscopy examinations are discovered accidentally. Through gastroscopy, it will be found that the color of the lesion surface is the same as the surrounding color because it occurs under the mucosa. However, some leiomyomas will have erosions or even ulcers on the surface. Experienced people will touch it with biopsy forceps and feel that its texture is relatively hard, which can be distinguished from cysts, hemangiomas, etc.

2. Esophageal polyps. They originate from esophageal epithelial cells and are named according to their histology as true mucosal polyps, myxofibromas, and fibromyomas.

3. Esophageal cysts. According to the formation mechanism of the cyst and the composition of the cyst wall, they can be roughly divided into retention cysts, bronchogenic cysts, gastric cysts and other types.

4. Esophageal hemangioma. It is caused by the malformation of the vascular network during the embryonic period. According to the tissue structure, it is divided into capillary hemangioma, cavernous hemangioma and mixed hemangioma.

5. Esophageal papilloma. It is caused by hyperkeratosis of the esophageal epithelium and mucosal hyperplasia. Its occurrence is related to chronic irritation of reflux esophagitis. It is also believed to be related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Compared with esophageal cancer, the incidence of benign esophageal tumors is generally lower, but benign tumors have their own unique incidence. Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the esophagus, followed by polyps, cysts, papillomas and hemangiomas. In terms of tumor distribution, the middle esophagus is the most common.