A rare case of primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus

Abstract

A 67-year-old female with heartburn presented to a local clinic. She underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and was then referred to our hospital for further treatment. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a slightly depressed lesion with a wall deformity at the middle thoracic esophagus, 32 cm from the incisor. A biopsy specimen showed adenocarcinomatous change. She underwent subtotal esophagectomy with 3-field lymph node dissection. A pathological examination revealed a15-mm diameter tumor that had invaded the submucosal layer. The histological type was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). No recurrence has been identified at 24 months postoperatively. The incidence of MEC of the salivary glands is high, but the incidence of MEC of the esophagus is extremely low. Here, we report a case of esophageal MEC treated in the early stage.

The microscopic anatomy of the esophagus including the individual layers, specialized tissues, and unique components and their responses to injury

“…Early lesions may appear as a nodule, ulcer, or depressed area, often occurring in the upper or mid‐esophagus. Most tumors resemble carcinomas that develop in the salivary glands with mucoepidermoid carcinoma being the most common variant . Of note, most historical examples of esophageal adenoid cystic carcinoma represent squamous cell carcinomas with prominent basaloid features, and many reported cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma show high‐grade cytologic features that warrant classification as adenosquamous carcinoma.…”

Rare tumors of esophageal squamous mucosa

“…Accurate preoperative diagnosis can be difficult and requires (as in the salivary gland) the histologic demonstration of mucus and both intermediate and epidermoid cells (Fig. ) . MEC manifests aggressively, with a biological behavior and prognosis much poorer than conventional SCC.…”

“…4). 40 MEC manifests aggressively, with a biological behavior and prognosis much poorer than conventional SCC. Compared to the latter, MEC has a greater recurrence rate, increased incidence of distant spread, and heightened resistance to adjuvant treatment.…”