A LONG-TERM SURVIVING PATIENT WITH PRIMARY SMALL-CELL CANCER OF THE ESOPHAGUS

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was seen at the hospital because of sensation of food sticking in his throat at meals. Endoscopic study revealed a stricture over the entire circumference of the esophagus at the lower end of the esophagus which tended to bleed and was negative for Lugol staining. Barium meal disclosed a type 2 tumor 6cm in size at the lower thoracic esophagus. With a diagnosis of esophageal cancer, a total excision of the thoracic esophagus with a retrosternal gastroesophagostomy was performed. It was 6.0×4.0cm in size, T3, N1, M0, Stage III. Since the tumor was histopathologically small-cell cancer, postoperative radiation therapy (40Gy/16times; supraclavicular and mediastinam) was given. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital. He has been free from any signs of recurrence and strictly followed in our clinic, as of 4 years 8 months after the operation.
Although the frequency is low, small-cell cancer of the esophagus has a high malignant potential and a poor diagnosis. In a review of the literature, all patients with esophageal cancer survived for 2 years or more had undergone combined therapies including operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This paper deals with the long-term surviving patient without any signs of recurrence after an excision of the foci followed by radiation therapy.