stage IIB esophageal adenocarcinoma Stage II is divided into stages IIA and IIB, depending on where the cancer has spread. In stage IIB, cancer (1) has spread into the connective tissue layer of the esophagus wall; or (2) is in the mucosa or submucosa layer and may have spread into the muscle layer of the esophagus wall. Cancer is found in 1 or 2 lymph nodes near the tumor. |