Abstract
A 72-year-old man diagnosed with esophageal cancer, cT3N1M0, cStage III, underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by subtotal esophagectomy by laparoscopy-right thoracotomy approach with 3-field lymph node dissection and retrosternal reconstruction. His postoperative course was uneventful and oral intake was resumed on the 7th postoperative day. However, high fever and chill developed in the next early morning, and a blood culture yielded Acinetobacter species. The patient also developed DIC. Although no apparent source of infection could be identified, his general condition gradually improved with chemotherapy associated with treatments for DIC. Thereafter he did not have demonstrable complications and was discharged from our hospital on the 28th postoperative day. Histopathology revealed disappearance of tumor cells by NACRT.
NACRT is considered to be an effective therapy, but particular attention should be paid to opportunistic infections due to weakened immune system during perioperative period, like in our case.
