title: Esophageal carcinoma in children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal cancer is rare in children and is limited to isolated case reports. We describe 2 cases of esophageal carcinoma (1 case each of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma) and present literature review of esophageal carcinoma in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both of our patients had common symptoms of progressive dysphagia and significant weight loss at presentation. We were unable to identify any specific predisposing factors for either adenocarcinoma (caustic ingestion, reflux disease, Barrett esophagus) or squamous cell carcinoma (caustic ingestion, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes). Both patients responded poorly to chemotherapy and died of progressive disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On account of the rarity of esophageal carcinoma in this age group, there are no management guidelines for the pediatric oncologist. There is a strong need for collaborative efforts between adult and pediatric oncologists to establish cooperative diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for successful management of rare pediatric tumors like esophageal carcinoma.
authors: Divisions of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, NY, USA.
authors: Magimairajan
authors: M
authors: Issaivanan
authors: Arlene
authors: A
authors: Redner
authors: Toba
authors: T
authors: Weinstein
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Soffer
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Glassman
authors: Morris
authors: M
authors: Edelman
authors: Carolyn Fein
authors: CF
authors: Levy
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male