title: Primary small-cell carcinoma of the oesophagus with spontaneous oesophageal perforation following chemotherapy.
abstract: The authors describe a 66 year old woman with small-cell carcinoma of the oesophagus who developed a perforation following chemotherapy. Small-cell carcinoma of the oesophagus is a rare neoplasm, varying in appearance from a small mucosal lesion to a larger fungating mass, which in our patient presented as a bulky soft-tissue mass causing stricture. Pleural fluid collections which developed via a spontaneous oesophageal-pleural fistula were subsequently drained using percutaneously placed catheters. Radiologic management of this condition provided a successful and cost-effective means of patient care.
authors.affiliation: British Columbia Cancer Agency, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Munk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed