A Case of Spindle Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus / 대한소화기내시경학회지

ABSTRACT

Spindle cell carcinoma of the esophagus containing both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements is rare, accounting for approximately 1- 2% of all esophageal neoplasms. Terms used to describe this lesion include carcinosarcoma, pseudosarcoma, polypoid carcinoma, pseudosarcomatous squamous cell carcinoma and spindle cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Spindle cell carcinomas were originally classified as carcinosarcomas or pseu- dosarcomas, depending on the morphology and bilologic behavior of the particular lesian. However, pseudosarcoma and carcinosarcoma appear to be the same pathologic entity with varying degrees of anaplastic spindle cell metaplasia of the carcinomatous portion of the tumor. Thus, these lesions have been clsssified together as spindle cell carcinomas. A 59 year-old man who experienced weight loss for 4 months was hospitalized as a result of suffering from dysphagia for 2 months. A diffuse bulky protruding mass with superficial ulceration and easy friability on 25 to 35 cm from the incisors, which invaded the right intermediate bronchus and involved the right paratracheal and subcarnial lymph nodes, were obsetved in esophagogram, endoscopy and chest CT. Pathologic finding, including immunoreactivity to cytokeratin and vimentin, was consistent with spindle cell carcinoma. We report a case of spindle cell carcinoma of the esophagus.