Clinical Endoscopy

The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (대한소화기내시경학회)
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A rare case of esophageal mucoepidermoid carcinoma successfully treated via endoscopic submucosal dissection

  • So Eun Jeun (Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Kyung Bin Kim (Department of Pathology, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Bong Eun Lee (Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Gwang Ha Kim (Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Moon Won Lee (Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Dong Chan Joo (Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2024.02.29
  • Accepted : 2024.03.07
  • Published : 2024.09.30
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Abstract

Esophageal mucoepidermoid carcinoma (EMEC) is a special subtype of esophageal malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of primary esophageal carcinoma. Pathologically, it consists of a mixture of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with mucin-secreting cells. Special staining for mucicarmine helps to diagnose EMEC. We present a rare case of EMEC successfully treated via endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). A 63-year-old man was referred to our tertiary hospital. On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a 6-mm-sized subtle reddish depressed lesion was identified in the mid-esophagus. Diagnostic ESD was performed with a high suspicion of carcinoma. Histopathologic findings were consistent with EMEC which was confined to the lamina propria without lymphatic invasion. We plan to do a careful follow-up without administering adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Due to the small volume of the lesion, establishing a diagnosis was difficult through forceps biopsy alone. However, by using ESD, we could confirm and successfully treat a rare case of early-stage EMEC.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by clinical research grant from Pusan National University Hospital in 2024.

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