2021 Volume 54 Issue 11 Pages 768-775
Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is a highly malignant disease with a poor prognosis. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 antibody have been approved and experiences with this therapy have been described. The patient was a 75-year-old man with PMME in the lower thoracic esophagus. Subtotal esophagectomy was performed and the histopathological diagnosis was pT1b(SM1)N1M0 pStage II. During follow-up without adjuvant therapy, a recurrent tumor in the liver was detected on CT 14 months after surgery. Nivolumab was administered and the tumor decreased in size. Complete response (CR) was achieved after 18 cycles and the therapy was discontinued. There has been no recurrence in 20 months of follow-up after termination. This is the first report of a case of recurrent PMME after surgery for which CR was achieved with an anti-PD-1 antibody and maintained after termination of the antibody.
