Esophageal Cancer By Minhhuyen Nguyen, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Reviewed / Revised Mar 2021 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Prognosis Treatment Key Points Topic Resources Barrett Esophagus Progression... Squamous Cell Carcinoma of... Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus Barrett Esophagus Staging Esophageal Cancer * The most common malignant tumor in the proximal two thirds of the esophagus is squamous cell carcinoma; adenocarcinoma is the most common in the distal one third.