A CASE WITH SUPERFICIAL ESOPHAGEAL CANCER LOCATED SOLELY ON ESOPHAGOGASTRIC VARICES REQUIRING ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION

Abstract

We here report a case with esophageal cancer located on solely esophageal varices, requiring an endoscopic mucosal resection.
A 69-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further evaluation of the with an esophageal lesion suspected of being a superficial cancer. On upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a slightly depressed, superficial, reddish lesion located solely on esophageal varices was found, it was diagnosed as a superficial esophageal cancer using special endoscopic techniques. Treatment was first performed for the esophageal varices using endoscopic procedures (endoscopic injection sclerotherapy(EIS), endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL), and endoscopic clipping). After eradication of the varices, the disappearance of vessels under the cancer was confirmed by endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS). Since then, endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)of the cancer lesion was carried out without the occurence of any severe complications. On histopathology, the intraepithelial cancer, was found to have been completely resected without lymphatic or vascular permeation.
The approach used in this patient is useful for the diagnosis and the treatment of superficial esophageal cancer located solely on varices.