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A case of metastatic esophageal tumor from breast cancer

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Abstract

A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of dysphagia that had developed 37 months after initiation of treatment for breast cancer. Endoscopy revealed severe stenosis 32 cm from the incisors through which the endoscope could not pass. No mucosal irregularities were observed, and biopsies of the stenotic lesion were negative for malignancy. Computed tomography showed wall thickening of the midthoracic esophagus and left pleural effusion, which had increased metabolic activity as detected by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Cytological examination of the pleural effusion showed adenocarcinoma compatible with metastasis from a prior lobular carcinoma of the breast. Vinorelbine effectively relieved her symptoms, and the disease stabilized for approximately 1 year. However, she died 16 months after the diagnosis of metastatic esophageal tumor from the preceding breast cancer.

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Correspondence to Shin-ichi Kosugi.

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Sakamoto, K., Kosugi, Si., Koyama, Y. et al. A case of metastatic esophageal tumor from breast cancer. Esophagus 7, 53–57 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10388-009-0216-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10388-009-0216-x

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