Rethinking the Risk Profile for Esophageal Cancer Screening

African-American men who consume alcohol and smoke tobacco might merit targeted screening for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

In the U.S., guidelines recommending screening for esophageal cancer primarily focus on risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), particularly in patients with Barrett esophagus, rather than esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which is far more prevalent worldwide (and disproportionately affects African-Americans in the U.S). Both alcohol and tobacco use are recognized individual and synergistic contributors to ESSC risk. Now, researchers have estimated risks for ESSC associated with these cofactors across racial/ethnic, sex, and age groups.

Researchers constructed a Markov model using cancer registry data and race-specific prevalences of tobacco smoking (lifetime consumption >100 cigarettes) and alcohol consumption (lifetime consumpt…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors