An autopsy case of primary esophageal choriocarcinoma in a 42‐year‐old Japanese male Is reported. The tumor was pure choriocarcinoma typical hemorrhagic and necrotic nature occupying almost the entire circumference of the mid‐esophagus. The choriocarcinoma had metastasized to the liver, lung and lymph nodes. In the esophageal tumor, immunohistochemical staining showed the presence of mainly human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), with human placental lactogen (HPL) in a few syncytiotrophoblastic cells. Only 3 cases of extragonadal choriocarcinoma originating in the esophagus have been reported up to now. The possible pathogenesis and pathological characteristics of primary esophageal choriocarcinoma are discussed.

A mass of 8 cm in diameter was revealed in the right upper lung field of a 46-year-old female patient. The chest X-ray film taken one year previously revealed only a linear shadow in the same position, which was thought to be a vacant cyst. The levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in cyst fluid and serum were elevated, at 410,000 and 130 U/ml, respectively. After surgical resection, serum CA19-9 returned to normal. Pathologically, the cyst wall was lined with bronchial epithelium with no evidence of malignancy. Immunohistochemical study revealed CA19-9 positivity in the bronchial epithelium of the cyst wall. (Internal Medicine 37: 86-90, 1998)

No abstract