The Fifth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Digestive system and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual contain substantial refinements of information for oesophageal tumours. The epithelial tumours of oesophagus are classified as benign, dysplasia and malignant groups. Dysplasia is divided into Barrett dysplasia and squamous dysplasia and graded into either low grade or high grade. Malignant oesophageal tumours are often adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. The main update in cancer staging in oesophageal tumours is the subdivision of the prognostic staging into 3 groups; squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and carcinoma after adjuvant therapy. HER-2 amplification is recognized as a molecular target for therapy of oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma. The other oesophageal tumours are adenoid cystic carcinoma, mucoepidermoid/adenosquamous carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and neuroendocrine neoplasms. Overall, the incorporation of new data and definitions on histopathology, prognostic factors and genetics are important for personalized management of patients with oesophageal tumours.