Topic overview

Start with the big picture

The lesson begins with histology and epidemiology, then reviews risk factors such as long-standing GERD or Barrett’s oesophagus, obesity, tobacco, and alcohol. It highlights alarm symptoms—including progressive dysphagia and unexplained weight loss—and explains why endoscopy with biopsy is central to diagnosis. Staging uses modalities such as EUS, CT, and PET-CT; TNM stage and depth of invasion are key prognostic markers. Management is organised by disease extent: early-stage endoscopic treatment or surgery, multimodal approaches for locally advanced disease, definitive chemoradiotherapy for selected unresectable or cervical squamous-cell cancers, and systemic therapy for metastatic disease. The material also surveys treatment-related adverse effects and monitoring, including chemotherapy toxicities and immune-related effects.