title: Verrucous Squamous Cell Cancer in the Esophagus: An Obscure Diagnosis.
abstract: Verrucous carcinoma is a rare, slow-growing type of squamous cell cancer. Fewer than 50 patients with verrucous carcinoma in the esophagus have been described worldwide. In 2014, two male patients were diagnosed with verrucous carcinoma in the distal part of the esophagus. The endoscopic examinations showed a similar wart-like, white, irregular mucosa in both cases. The diagnosis was difficult to make since all biopsies taken from the affected area showed no malignancy. This cancer type has a relatively good prognosis when the diagnosis is finally obtained. Both our patients presented with dysphagia, weight loss, and an endoscopically malignant tumor, but surgery was not performed until after 9 and 10 months, respectively, and then in order to get a diagnosis. At the last follow-up, both patients were without any recurrence of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology C, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egeland
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology C, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Achiam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Federspiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology C, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Svendsen
keywords: Dysphagia; Esophagus; Squamous cell carcinoma; Verrucous carcinoma