Jf. Mosnier et Jg. Balique, Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the esophagus with coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin and neuroendocrine differentiation, ARCH PATH L, 124(1), 2000, pp. 135-138
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
A pleomorphic (giant cell) carcinoma of the esophagus is reported in a 52-y
ear-old man who had dysphagia and weakness. The 8-cm-high vegetating tumor
consisted of solid sheets of poorly cohesive epithelioid cells broken into
clusters by strands of stroma. Numerous giant cells showing phagocytic phen
omenon were present. Immunochemical analyses demonstrated the epithelial or
igin of the neoplasm, although most of the tumor cells strongly expressed v
imentin. Numerous tumor cells expressed synaptophysin. Neurosecretory granu
les were detected in some tumor cells on electron microscopic examination.
The patient died 4 months after he became symptomatic. As far as we can asc
ertain, this is the first case report describing a pleomorphic carcinoma ar
ising in the esophagus. This poorly differentiated carcinoma might be of ne
uroendocrine differentiation. In the esophagus, pleomorphic carcinoma must
be distinguished from polypoid tumors such as carcinosarcoma and malignant
melanoma.