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.
American Journal of Gastroenterology 87(5): 664-667
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9270 PMID: 1317672 Document Number: 398133
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.