Abstract
A 64-year-old female with slight odynophagia was referred to our clinic for further evaluation of malignant lymphoma of the esophagus. A tumor with a central ulceration was observed at the middle portion of esophagus and a Borrman 2-like lesion was also observed on the lesser curvature of the cardia by rentogenography and endoscopy. Although malignant lymphoma was highly suspected by routine pathohistological study on the biopsy specimen obtained from the esophageal and gastric lesions, no evidence showing lymphocyte origin was obtained with immunocytological and genetic analysis. Since Grimelius', Fontana-Masson and Keratin stainings of the biopsy specimens were negative and immunohistochemical staining for CEA was positive, the tumor was considered to be of epithelial origin. Consequently, the tumor was confirmed to be a primary anaplastic carcinoma of the esophagus with marked submucosal invasion and spreading of tumor cells into the lower portion of esophagus and stomach. Serum CEA levels were markedly increased from the 55th hospital day, and multiple metastatic lesion were found in both lobes of the liver by computed tomography. Since anaplastic carcinoma of the esophagus is considered to be very rare, a possible cellular origin and differential diagnosis of this cancer were discussed.
