Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus (PSCEC) Associated with Paraneoplastic Sweating Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review

Document Type: Case Report

Authors

1 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Solid Tumor Treatment Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Department of Anesthesiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction:
Primary small cell carcinoma of theesophagus (PSCEC) associated with paraneoplastic sweating syndrome is a rare disease characterized with rapid growth rate, metastasis at the time of diagnosis, and poor prognosis. The lung is the most common site for small cell carcinoma but this malignancy includes 0.1% to 1% of all gastrointestinal and 0.8% to 2.7% of esophageal malignancies. So far more than 200 cases of PSCEC have been reported in literature.
 
Case Report:
The patient is a 54-year-old female from the Golestan province who presented with dysphagia, 19 kg-weight loss (from 105 kgs to 86 kgs), and excessive sweating. She was admitted in the thoracic surgery ward, at Ghaem Hospital, in the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, with a pathological diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. She underwent transhiatal total esophagectomy. Excessive sweating was eradicated after surgery and she was discharged after 13 days without any complication. She received chemotherapy and at her 5-year follow up, she showed no recurrence or metastasis.
 
Conclusion:
PSCEC usually requires chemotherapy with or without surgery. A favorable outcome, with total resection of the lesion combined with chemotherapy, was obtained. However, due to the rarity of the disease there is no definitive choice of treatment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology

Volume 27, Issue 6
November and December 2015
Pages 473-477

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