Beyond Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Heeyah Song; Eula Tetangco; Loc Ton; Amanda Barrett; John Erikson L Yap

doi:10.7759/cureus.12619

Beyond Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Cureus. 2021 Jan 11;13(1):e12619. doi: 10.7759/cureus.12619.

Authors

Heeyah Song¹, Eula Tetangco², Loc Ton³, Amanda Barrett⁴, John Erikson L Yap²

Affiliations

¹ Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, USA.
² Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, USA.
³ Gastroenterology, The Permante Medical Group, Sacramento, USA.
⁴ Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, USA.

Abstract

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a poorly differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with distinct morphologic characteristics. Yet, there are no clearly defined guidelines established for management. BSCC in the esophagus is a very rare entity, with the proportion of esophageal BSCC ranging from 0.068% to 11%. This wide range is thought to be secondary to difficulty making the diagnosis on small biopsy specimens and the lack of a universally defined proportion of BSCC components necessary to make the diagnosis. We present the case of a 57-year-old African American female, who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) after an abnormal barium swallow in the setting of two months history of dysphagia and weight loss and was diagnosed with BSCC of the esophagus on histopathology.

Keywords: basaloid squamous cell carcinoma; bscc; ec- esophageal cancer; esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

Case Reports