A CASE OF THE ESOPHAGEAL CANCER WITH PROMINENT INVASION TO THE PANCREAS

Abstract

A case of the esophageal cancer with striking invasion to the pancreas is reported. The patient was a 54 years old man complained of epigastralgia. The barium meal examination of the stomach showing a compression in the lesser curvature of the upper body suggested the pancreatic cancer. By ERCP, the main pancreatic duct of the body revealed remarkable irregularity 5.5 cm in length, and slight dilatation was seen in the caudal portion. From these findings of ERCP, pancreatic cancer was suspected. After admission to our hospital, close investi gation of the upper alimentary tract was performed. In the lower portion of the esophagus, a small protruded lesion containing a central ulcer was shown unexpectedly. The endo scopic biopsy specimens revealed well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. By laparotomy, thickened and hard portion of the lower esophagus was palpated. One mass, like a hard ball consisted of the thickened lower esophagus, lymph nodes (1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12) and pancreatic body and tail was observed. The mass was not able to be extirpated. The metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas is not so rare, however, a case as reported in this paper is very rare.