ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION DIAGNOSIS OF ADENOCARCINOMA OF ESOPHAGUS WITH SIGNET-RING CELL FEATURES ARISING IN BARRETTS-ESOPHAGUS - A CASE-REPORT

We report a rarely documented case of adenocarcinoma of esophagus with signet-ring cell features arising in a Barrett's esophagus. This was diagnosed by employing combined endosonography and fine-needle aspirat ion cytology. The patient had progressive dysphagia and a poorly circu mscribed mass involving the distal esophagus and gastroesophageal junc tion. An incisional biopsy was performed which showed Barrett's esopha gus with highly atypical glands suspicious for adenocarcinoma. Followi ng that, an ultrasound-guided endoscopic fine-needle aspiration reveal ed a cellular specimen with multiple groups and singly dispersed atypi cal glandular cells with a predominance of signet-ring features. These findings represented an adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell features arising in Barrett's esophagus. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.