Squamous cell carcinoma
The esophagus is normally lined with squamous cells. Cancer starting in these cells is called
squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer can occur anywhere along the esophagus.
Once, squamous cell carcinoma was by far the more common type of esophageal cancer in
the United States. This has changed over time, and now it makes up less than half of
esophageal cancers in this country.