A rare case of an endocrine cell carcinoma of the esophagus is documented. A 74-year old male was admitted to Chiba University Hospital because of epigastralgia. With an upper GI series and endoscopy, an elevated lesion in the Im and a shallow depressed lesion in the stomach were detected. Biopsy resulted in Group V in both lesions. Thoracic esophagectomy and total gastrectomy was performed and reconstraction was made with right hemi-colon through the retrosternal route. The esophageal tumor was 2.5×1.5cm in size and was elevated with central shallow ulceration. On light microscopy, the tumor was existed in the submucosal tissue and composed of small cells arranged in trabeculae and nests. Electron microscopic examination revealed secretory granules in tumor cell cytoplasma. Based on these findings, it was diagnosed as endocrine cell carcinoma of the esophagus, a0, ly3, v1, n4 (+), stage IV.
Since endocrine cell carcinoma has great potentiality of early metastasis, an active and multidisciplinary treatment is recommended.