1998 Volume 59 Issue 7 Pages 1833-1837
Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare malignant neoplasm.
A 62-year-old man was referred to the hospital with persistent dysphagia. Endoscopic examination revealed a tumor in the lower thoracic esophagus, and repeated biopsy demonstrated atypical cells, but exact cellular origin could not be confirmed. The patient recieved pre-operative chemotherapy consisting of CDDP (on day 1 at a dose of 100 mg/body) and 5-FU (from day 2 to 6 at a dose of 500 mg/body/day).
Upon operation, a thoracic esophagectomy was followed by mediastinal and abdominal lymph node dissection. An ulcerative tumor, 6×3cm in size, was histologically composed of small atypical cells with very limitted amount of cytoplasm, and only a small focus of squamous cell carcinoma was also confirmed. These small cell were positive for NSE and synaptophysin, and electoron microscopical examination demonstrated intracytoplasmic neurosecretory glanules. According to Guide Lines for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Carcinoma of the Esophagus, the lesion was judged as compatible with the diagnotic category of small cell carcinoma.
Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association)
