Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus in a patient with longstanding primary achalasia.

Proctor, D D; Fraser, J L; Mangano, M M; Calkins, D R; Rosenberg, S J · Am J Gastroenterol · 1992

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Achalasia is believed to be a predisposing factor for the development of esophageal cancer. Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare neoplasm, with fewer than 150 cases having been reported in the world literature, and it has been described only once previously in a patient with longstanding achalasia. We describe a case of an 85-yr-old woman with long-term primary achalasia who developed primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus. We hypothesize that this patient's recurrent, worsening dysphagia is related to a paraneoplastic phenomenon. We discuss this association and review the literature.

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