Cervical esophaguectomy plus tracheal resection and free jeyuno graft as treatment of esophageal granular cell tumor

Abstract

Granular cell tumor is a very rare entity (0.03%) with controversial management, due to its low incidence and its usually benign behavior (98%). Its location in the digestive tract is unusual (3-11%), being the esophagus the most frequently affected organ, with about 400 published cases. However, the incidence in the cervical esophagus is anecdotal (20 published cases). We present a patient with an esophageal granular cell tumor that invaded trachea, thyroid and soft tissues, performing a block resection of the cervical esophagus, two tracheal rings, thyroid and prethyroid musculature. For digestive reconstruction, a free jejunum graft with microvascular anastomosis was made and tracheal reconstruction was performed using term-terminal anastomosis. The importance of the case is twofold: to contribute more casuistry, and to describe a highly complex surgical technique never indicated in this type of tumors, due to its rarely aggressive character.

Keywords: Esofaguectomía; Esophagectomy; Free jejunum graft; Granular cell tumor; Injerto de yeyuno libre; Resección traqueal; Tracheal resection; Tumor de células granulares.