In healthy adults, the esophagus is a muscular duct about 25 cm in length, with the upper end located at the lower margin of the sixth cervical vertebra or the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage, its height is from the pharynx, and the lower end is located on the left side of the 11th thoracic vertebra, followed by the cardia of the stomach.

Structure of human digestive system.

The esophagus is mainly divided into three segments: neck, chest and abdomen, and each node may become the growth site of esophageal tumors, especially the three physiological strictures of the esophagus.

Because food stays in the narrow area longer than in other areas. Therefore, some carcinogens in food and the three strictures of the esophagus have much more contact opportunities and retention times than other parts. At the same time, because of its small diameter, the esophageal stenosis is more likely to have friction with hard food, resulting in a certain degree of mechanical damage, which is likely to lead to chronic inflammation or damage in the long run, which is also one of the important reasons for esophageal cancer.

3 physiological strictures of the esophagus:

The first stenosis is located at the beginning of the esophagus, that is, the junction of the pharynx and the esophagus, which is equivalent to the cricoid cartilage and the lower margin of the sixth cervical vertebra, and is surrounded by the cricopharyngeal muscle and cricoid cartilage.

The second stenosis is 7 cm below the entrance of the esophagus, located at the place where the left branch airway crosses the esophagus, equivalent to the level between the sternal Angle or the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae.

It is formed by the aortic arch passing from the left side and the left branch airway passing from the front of the esophagus, which is the easy place for foreign bodies in the esophagus to persist.

The third stenosis is the hiatus of the esophagus through the diaphragm, which is oblique upward from right to left.

During the esophageal barium meal examination, these 3 indentations of the esophagus were seen.

These groups of people are extremely susceptible to esophageal cancer

The causes of esophageal cancer are complex.

It is generally believed that the occurrence of esophageal mucosal epithelial tumors is the result of a combination of multiple factors and long-term chronic stimulation

Bad eating habits, such as eating fast, like hot food, high salt diet, like pickles.

Studies have shown that long-term consumption of hot drinks or foods above 65 ° C will increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Overhot food will cause physical damage to the esophageal mucosa, long-term repeated damage is prone to atypical hyperplasia, and the risk of esophageal cancer will increase.

Smoking, drinking and other bad habits

First-degree relatives have a history of esophageal cancer, and esophageal cancer has a familial clustering phenomenon, which may be related to the same genetic background of members of the same family, or it may be due to the common exposure of members of the same family to specific environmental factors.

A large population-based case-control study shows a strong association between a family history of esophageal cancer and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma increases with the number of first-degree relatives affected. In addition, individuals with both parents with esophageal cancer have a substantially increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Poor oral hygiene, tooth loss, low frequency of brushing, and poor periodontal health are also potential risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Severe tooth loss increases the risk of esophageal squamous cell cancer by 1.5 times.