IPLab:Lab 7:Esophagus SCC

Clinical Summary

Approximately six months prior to admission, this 78-year-old male began having difficulty in swallowing solid food. This difficulty was described as a sticking of the food in his throat and was accompanied by cramping pain which could only be relieved by "coughing up" the ingested food. This dysphagia was accompanied by a twenty-pound weight loss. Following an upper GI series and endoscopic biopsy, the patient was given radiation treatment with considerable improvement. He did well for four months, after which the dysphagia and weight loss increased markedly. He refused operative intervention or further treatment and he died at home two months later.

Autopsy Findings

An autopsy revealed a circumferential fungating mass in the distal third of the esophagus. This mass partially occluded the lumen of the esophagus.

Images

• 

  This is a gross photograph of the luminal surface of the esophagus with the area of constriction (1). The area protrudes into the lumen. There is also a central area of ulceration (2).

• 

  This low-power photomicrograph of a cross-section through the esophagus at the area of constriction shows extensive infiltration of the esophageal wall with squamous cell carcinoma (arrows).

• 

  This is a high-power photomicrograph demonstrating the normal epithelium undergoing transition to carcinoma (arrows).

• 

  This is a higher-power photomicrograph showing invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Tongues and islands of tumor cells exhibit areas of central necrosis (arrow).

• 

  This is a photomicrograph of bands of tumor cells invading into the adjacent tissues (arrows).

• 

  This is a higher-power photomicrograph of bands of tumor cells (arrows) extending between the muscle bundles.

• 

  This is a high-power photomicrograph of the tumor cells that have invaded the adjacent muscle tissue.

Study Questions

• Is squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus more common in men or in women?

Men. The male-to-female ratio falls in the range of 2:1 to as high as 20:1.

• What risk factors predispose to squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus?

• Deficiency of vitamins A, C, riboflavin, thiamine or pyridoxine;
• deficiency of trace metals (zinc or molybdenum);
• fungal contamination of foodstuffs;
• increases in nitrites/nitrates;
• alcohol consumption (hard liquor is worse than beer or wine);
• tobacco use;
• long-standing esophagitis;
• achalasia;
• celiac disease;
• genetic (racial) predisposition.

• What factors facilitate growth and spread of this tumor?

The rich lymphatic network in the submucosa of the esophagus promotes extensive circumferential and longitudinal spread. Intramural tumor cell clusters are often seen several centimeters away from the main tumor mass. Local extension into adjacent mediastinal structures occurs early and often in this disease and seriously limits the chance of curative resection.

Additional Resources

Reference

• eMedicine Medical Library: Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Merck Manual: Overview of Skin Cancer
• Merck Manual: Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Journal Articles

• Guenthner ST, Hurwitz RM, Buckel LJ, Gray HR. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas consistently show histologic evidence of in situ changes: a clinicopathologic correlation. J Am Acad Dermatol 1999 Sep;41(3 Pt 1):443-8.

Images

• PEIR Digital Library: Squamous Cell Carcinoma Images
• WebPath: Neoplasia

Related IPLab Cases

• Lab 7: Esophagus: Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Lab 7: Breast: Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma
• Lab 7: Lung: Bronchogenic Carcinoma
• Lab 7: Colon: Adenocarcinoma
• Lab 7: Lung & Liver: Metastatic Adenocarcinoma