A CASE OF SUBMUCOSAL BASALOID-SQUAMOUS CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS WITH LIVER METASTASIS

Abstract

We experienced a rare case of submucosal basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the esophagus with liver metastasis. A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for the purpose of operation for intrathoracic carcinoma that was diagnosed at another hospital. Esophagography revealed a lesion in the abdominal esophagus, and endoscopic findings demonstrated an elevated lesion 6.5cm in longer diameter on the anterior wall of the esophagus 28cm from the incisors. A squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by a biopsy. A total thoracic esophagectomy was performed. The resected material showed a 4.2 X 2.5 cm type 2 lesion with an uneven surface and a 1.6 X 1.3 cm type 0-I lesion. The histological diagnosis was double cancer of the esophagus, with squamous cell carcinoma and basaloid-squamous carcinoma. The patient was doing well 3 weeks after surgery. Basaloid-squamous carcinoma of the esophagus has been reported to have a poor prognosis on the whole, but the patients with the disease in an early stage (superficial cancer type) have been known to have less lymph node metastasis with consequent long-term survival.