Fatal hemorrhage from additional primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a patient previously having primary bronchogenic adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT

A unique occurrence is presented of additional primary epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus with fatal bleeding into the upper digestive tract after 3 years of diagnosis of primary bronchogenic adenocarcinoma of an 81-year-old Thai man. The primary bronchogenic adenocarcinoma was surgically removed and followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy without evidence of tumor recurrence at autopsy. The epidermoid carcinoma of the lower one-third of the esophagus metastasized to the pleura of the remaining right lung. There was no complaint of dysphagia. Outward extension through the esophageal wall rather than intraluminal protrusion of the squamous cell carcinoma was thought to result in the absence of dysphagia. Although it is uncommon physicians should be aware of the occurrence of multiple neoplasms.