[Four cases of esophageal metastasis from breast cancer].
The 4 patients with esophageal metastasis from breast cancer were women aged 55 to 68, who had multiple metastases and long term survival (9 to 13 years) from diagnosis of primary breast cancer. All of them presented with progressive dysphagia. Computed tomography revealed a circumferential wall thickening of the upper to middle esophagus without enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes or other lesions that would cause esophageal obstruction through external compression. Endoscopic examination revealed circumferential stricture without mucosal abnormality. In 3 cases, biopsy or EMR specimens revealed adenocarcinoma, which suggested metastasis of breast cancer resected previously. In the other case, biopsy failed to detect any malignancy. Metastatic cancer to the esophagus is a rare occurrence. We report these rare cases with references to the literature.
Department of Gastroenterology, Hokkaido Cancer Center, National Hospital Organization, and Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University. ysatoh@sap-cc.go.jp
Yasuhiro
Y
Sato
Hiroto
H
Horiguchi
Makoto
M
Yoshida
Tokiko
T
Nakamura
Tamotsu
T
Sagawa
Naoaki
N
Shintani
Koshi
K
Fujikawa
Yasuo
Y
Takahashi
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged