Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: A case report and review of the literature

We present a case of small cell esophageal carcinoma (SCEC) treated with al ternated chemotherapy (including cisplatin, etoposide, vincristine, cycloph osphamide and doxorubicin) and irradiation (36 Gy) followed by surgery. Des pite a pathological complete response, the patient died of regional disease recurrence 29 months after the diagnosis. We reviewed the available litera ture on SCEC with regard to the incidence, clinical symptoms, radiological signs, diagnostic workup, therapeutic modalities and prognosis of this mali gnancy.