Small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus: Report of three cases and review ofthe literature with emphasis on therapy

Primary small-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus is rare, with about 200 cases reported up till now in the literature. Like pulmonary SCC, it is an aggressive tumor associated with a poor prognosis. Between 1994 and 1997, three patients with SCC of the esophagus were treated at Besancon Universit y Hospital and this represented 1.85% of all esophageal malignancies diagno sed during this period: one patient had a limited tumor and underwent initi al surgical resection, then chemotherapy with cisplatine and etoposide, and radiotherapy for recurrences. The other patients had extensive disease at diagnosis and were treated by the same chemotherapy. This retrospective study reports our experience of patients with this parti cular tumor and outlines the management strategy based on the available lit erature.