Kissing tumors; the concurrent diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

BMC Surg. 2021 Jan 6;21(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12893-020-01031-z.

Abstract

Background: Esophageal leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare tumor that constitutes less than 1% of all malignant esophageal tumors. Concurrent occurrence of esophageal leiomyosarcoma with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is even rarer than isolated leiomyosarcoma.

Case presentation: In this report, we present a case of concurrent leiomyosarcoma and SCC in a 64-year-old woman presenting with vomiting and solid dysphagia, which has not been properly diagnosed following several referrals and diagnostic modalities. At last Exploratory laparotomy with gastric pull-up was performed in addition to radical laryngectomy with partial resection of the esophagus and subtotal thyroidectomy. Pathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen showed concurrent LMS (5.2 × 4.5 × 3 cm) and SCC (1.5 × 0.6 × 0.6 cm) at the same anatomical level in the proximal esophagus.

Conclusions: This study proposes the importance of using ancillary diagnostic tests such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) to diagnose less common cases such as concurrent LMS and SCC.

Keywords: Esophageal neoplasms; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Leiomyosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Esophageal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leiomyosarcoma* / diagnosis
  • Leiomyosarcoma* / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged