Laparoscopic Diagnosis for Spermatic Cord Metastasis from Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Report of a Case

Abstract

We report a case of previously unreported metastasis to the spermatic cord from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A 63-year-old Japanese man underwent laparoscopy-assisted esophageal bypass surgery for an advanced esophageal cancer. An elastic hard tumor was found in the right lateral inguinal fossa on intraoperative laparoscopy, and laparoscopic enucleation was performed. Histological examination of the resected tumor revealed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, compatible with metastasis from the esophageal cancer. Two months after the operation, computed tomography revealed a heterogeneously enhanced groin mass (20 mm in diameter) involving the right spermatic cord. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a solitary metastasis to the spermatic cord from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.