Adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction requires a clearer definition

The past few years have witnessed two facts in gastric cancer research: the morbidity and mortality of gastric cancer has shown a significant downward trend worldwide; and the incidence of the adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) has gradually increased in Western countries, which may be explained by the high prevalence of obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease among the Western populations. AEG can be the collective name of the adenocarcinomas located in the proximal 1/3 of the stomach and in the lower part of the esophagus (within 5 cm above the Z-line). It covers the gastric cardia cancer, distal esophageal carcinoma, proximal gastric cancer, and cancer of the cardiac part of gastric fundus. A standardized definition of AEG will facilitate future scientific research and academic exchanges.