Esophageal cancer (EC) is a global health problem and ranks eleventh in incidence and seventh in mortality among cancers worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze epidemiological indicators, risk factors, and screening methods for esophageal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and eLibrary databases was conducted for the period from 2005 to 2025.

RESULTS

In 2021, about 600.000 new cases of EC were reported in the world, the standardized incidence was 6.65 per 100.000 population, and the mortality rate was 6.25 per 100.000 population. It was found that the 5-year survival rate in EC patients was low and ranged from 10% to 30% in different countries, indicating low effectiveness of screening and treatment of this malignancy. In Russia, the standardized incidence rate of EC in 2022 was 2.87 per 100.000 population, but the 5-year survival rate is low at 8.6%. The main risk factors for EC include smoking and chewing tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, insufficient vegetable consumption, and low socio-economic status. Endoscopic examination is the best screening method for both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The use of modern endoscopy methods, a combination of endoscopic and radiological methods, and artificial intelligence technologies increases the effectiveness of EC screening. To a large extent, EC can be prevented by increasing the effectiveness of primary prevention measures, including tobacco smoking cessation, reducing alcohol consumption, reducing excess body weight, modifying nutrition, improving social and hygienic living conditions, and optimizing socio-economic factors.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to intensify measures to prevent and screen for esophageal cancer in the Russian Federation.