Reported Causes And Risk Factors Of Esophageal Cancer

Achalasia

Achalasia is an uncommon disorder where an individual has difficulty with food passing from the esophagus into their stomach. This disorder happens due to nerve damage in the esophagus and surrounding regions. The nerve damage causes impairment to the ability of the esophagus to squeeze food down. Since the esophagus cannot properly squeeze down food, the lower esophageal sphincter cannot fully relax and allow food to pass into the stomach. In achalasia patients, food stagnates in the esophagus and causes an overgrowth of bacteria that results in fermentation and production of lactic acid byproducts. These damaging byproducts stay in the esophagus, causing dysplastic changes and damage to the esophageal mucosa. The byproducts of bacterial overgrowth also inhibit proper stomach acid elimination from the esophagus. In addition, the cells of the esophagus erode due to esophageal overstretching associated with food stagnation. Over time, chronic esophageal inflammation combines with these factors that present with achalasia, resulting in cellular DNA damage. Any damage or changes to the DNA of the esophageal cells can cause the development of esophageal cancer.

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