title: Superficial undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the esophagus showing an interesting growing pattern in histology.
abstract: We report a case of superficial undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The histology of the tumor was interesting; there was squamous cell differentiation within the epithelial layer and undifferentiated small cells growing within the submucosal layer. The tumor had a negative Grimelius reaction, suggesting no differentiation into a hormone-producing carcinoma known as an apudoma (Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation (APUD)). The serum levels of ACTH and calcitonin were within normal limits. As the patient was elderly and had a history of pleural tuberculosis causing poor pulmonary function, and owing to the fulminant nature of this carcinoma, he underwent blunt dissection of the esophagus by posterior mediastinal gastric pull-up. The patient recovered quickly and was able to be discharged with a good quality of life until the tumor recurred as a liver metastasis 6 months later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery, Osaka City General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanimura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higashino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology