A case of metachronous multiple esophageal cancer controlled by multimodality therapy after hypopharyngeal cancer operation

Abstract

Here we report a man in his 60s who underwent surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer 14 years previously, and has since received a combination of endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESDs), CRT and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for metachronous multiple esophageal cancers. His latest esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed mild stenosis and scarring, but no abnormalities, indicating his long-term disease-free status. After CRT, PDT can be currently available for esophageal cancer cases with ineligible factors of ESD and/or surgical resection, such as tumor depth, patient comorbidities and age. PDT was efficacious and minimally invasive for a treatment of superficial esophageal cancer in our inoperable case. Combination of ESD and PDT after CRT, minimally invasive tools, may be good multimodality therapy for metachronous superficial esophageal cancers difficult-to-treat by surgery.