Background: Esophageal carcinoma is a highly aggressive digestive cancer responsible for a notable proportion of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Its elevated metastatic rate contributes to a poor prognosis in affected patients. In this case review, we aim to summarize the metastatic characteristics of intramural gastric metastasis (IGM) in mucosal esophageal squamous carcinoma.
Case summary: A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a dry cough with an esophageal sensation for one year. Endoscopic examination revealed a 2.0 cm 1.0 cm, superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and the patient underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Fifteen months after ESD, positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed that the metabolism of the stomach cardia wall had increased slightly. However, the mucosa of the gastric cardia was smooth under gastroendoscopy. Two years after ESD, endoscopic examination revealed a giant gastric cardia carcinoma, while the esophageal mucosa was smooth, and no advanced cancer was found. A biopsy of the gastric cardia indicated squamous-cell carcinoma. The patient received immunochemotherapy and radiotherapy for esophageal cancer for 8 mo and is currently under follow-up.
Conclusion: Early-stage esophageal carcinoma with IGM is rare. Despite the ESD of the primary lesion, IGM may still occur and should be closely monitored after ESD.
Keywords: Case report; Endoscopic submucosal dissection; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Intramural metastasis.
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