Five-year survival after transhiatal resection of esophageal carcinoid tumor with a lymph node metastasis.

Abstract

Carcinoid tumors of the esophagus are rare. Most reported cases have had a poor prognosis. The authors report the case of a 64-year-old man with a 4-cm carcinoid tumor of the lower esophagus. Following endoscopic resection of an argyrophilic, nonargentaffin, carcinoid tumor of the lower esophagus, endosonography showed residual tumor, suggestive of a metastatic lymph node. The findings were confirmed at transhiatal esophagectomy. No recurrence has been observed along the current 5-year follow-up. Lymph node metastasis does not rule out the possibility of prolonged survival in esophageal carcinoids. Endosonography is strongly advisable for preoperative evaluation.