A case of neuroendocrine cell carcinoma of the esophagus that responded remarkably well to chemoradiotherapy

Abstract

An 83-year-old man who was suffering from dysphagia, underwent upper endoscopy which revealed a type 3 tumor at the middle of the esophagus. The biopsy specimen revealed high-grade neuroendocrine cell carcinoma. Tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin, CD56, chromogranin A, and TTF-1 on immunohistochemical staining. There was no lung tumor on computed tomographic scan. Therefore, we diagnosed primary neuroendocrine cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Carboplatin (CBDCA) ＋ etoposide (VP-16) combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy (total 50.4Gy) were administered. After this therapy, upper endoscopy and computed tomographic scan showed disappearance of the tumor.
Neuroendocrine cell carcinoma of the esophagus is rare and there is no standard therapy. It is a cancer with high-grade malignancy and the prognosis is extremely poor. We report the good outcome that was achieved after treatment with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy.