Abstract
Esophageal cancers are predominantly carcinomas, which are—due to their origin from the epithelial lining—visible by endoluminal view. We report in this study about the rare case of an esophageal squamous cell cancer with an unusual, entirely intramural growth pattern. The diagnosis could only be established postoperatively, because all preoperative biopsies had failed to demonstrate the tumor. The entirely intramural growth pattern of esophageal squamous cell cancer is an exceedingly rare variant, with only one previously reported case. Nevertheless, clinicians, radiologists, and pathologists should be aware of the potential existence of this condition, especially when clinical and imaging results suggest a malignant tumor that cannot be proven on biopsies. Surgical exploration must be considered under these circumstances.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brücher BL, Stein HJ, Zimmermann F, Werner M, Sarbia M, Busch R, Dittler HJ, Molls M, Fink U, Siewert JR (2004) Responders benefit from neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: results of a prospective phase-II trial. Eur J Surg Oncol 30:963–971
Ebihara Y, Hosokawa M, Kondo S, Katoh H (2004) Thirteen cases with intramural metastasis to the stomach in 1259 patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 26:1223–1225
Hamilton SR, Aaltonen LA (2000) Pathology and genetics of tumours of the digestive system. Tumours of small intestine. IARC, Lyon, pp 69–91
Jemal A, Tiwari RC, Murray T, Ghafoor A, Samuels A, Ward E, Feuer EJ, Thun MJ (2004) American Cancer Society. Cancer statistics, 2004. CA Cancer J Clin 54:8–29
Kishino T, Yamaguchi Y, Yamagishi T, Hashimoto T, Kyomasu Y, Mori H, Sugiyama M, Atomi Y, Saito S, Ishida H, Takahashi S (2000) Submucosal tumor (SMT)-like esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with gastric metastasis. Hepatogastroenterology 47:1581–1584
Koide N, Yazawa K, Koike S, Adachi W, Amano J, Ishii K (1998) Two cases of gastric involvement of esophageal cancer: intramural metastasis and intramural lymph node metastasis. Hepatogastroenterology 45:1619–1623
McGregor DH, Mills G, Boudet RA (1976) Intramural squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Cancer 37:1556–1561
von Rahden BHA, Stein HJ, Feussner H, Siewert JR (2004) Enucleation of submucosal tumors of the esophagus: minimally-invasive versus open approach. Surg Endosc 18:924–930
Sarbia M, Becker KF, Höfler H (2004) Pathology of upper gastrointestinal malignancies. Semin Oncol 31:465–475
Siewert JR, Stein HJ, Feith M, Brücher BLDM, Bartels H, Fink U (2001) Tumor cell type is an independent prognostic parameter in esophageal cancer: lessons learned from more than 1,000 consecutive resections at a single institution in the western world. Ann Surg 234:360–369
Siewert JR, Stein HJ, Sendler A, Molls M, Fink U (2002) Esophageal cancer: clinical management. In: Kelsen DA et al (eds) Gastrointestinal oncology: principles and practice. Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia; pp 261–288
Sobin LH, Wittekind Ch (2002) UICC. TNM classification of malignant tumors (6th edition). Wiley, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
von Rahden, B.H.A., Brücher, B.L.D.M. & Sarbia, M. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with entirely intramural growth pattern. Virchows Arch 448, 862–866 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-006-0185-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-006-0185-6