2020 Volume 71 Issue 6 Pages 421-425
Esophageal pulmonary fistula concomitant with advanced esophageal cancer often causes lung abscess and deterioration of respiratory status, and shows poor prognosis. Herein we report a case of esophageal cancer with esophago-pulmonary fistula, and discuss the treatment strategies. The case was initially diagnosed as a lung abscess due to esophago-pulmonary fistula, and was treated with antibiotics. In addition, a nasal drainage tube was inserted into the lung abscess through the fistula. After control of infection, chemoradiotherapy was performed. In this case, the tumor remained unresectable after the treatments, however; there was no fever or recurrence of inflammation due to the esophago-pulmonary fistula. Esophago-pulmonary fistula is a difficult condition with poor prognosis, but radical resection could be possible in some cases with advanced esophageal cancer who responded to chemoradiotherapy and are in good general condition. Treatment strategies for advanced esophageal cancer with esophago-pulmonary fistula should be tailor-made based on the detailed patient conditions.
