Adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus after placement of a gastric band

Abstract

A 43-year-old man presented with severe back pain. He had a history of morbid obesity, for which an esophagogastric silicone band was placed 2 years before presentation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column showed multiple osseous metastases. On the computerized tomography scan of the abdomen, a tumor of the lower esophagus just proximal to the esophagogastric band was seen, of which histological examination revealed an esophageal adenocarcinoma. Esophageal adenocarcinoma after bariatric surgery has been described previously in only a few cases. Although there is no evidence for a causal relationship with bariatric surgery, one should bear in mind that the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increased in patients with morbid obesity because of the higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Also, the symptoms of adenocarcinoma might be masked after bariatric surgery.