Squamous cell carcinoma in a large epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum

Abstract

Carcinoma is rare in an esophageal diverticulum. The case of a 53-year-old man with a large mass in a long-standing symptomatic epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum is presented in this study. Squamous cell carcinoma in the diverticulum with pleural invasion was diagnosed after surgical diverticulectomy. The patient underwent subtotal esophagectomy with locoregional lymph node dissection and reconstruction with gastric tube because of micro-invasion at the surgical margin. The patient developed malignant pleural effusion at 6 months after surgery, and he eventually expired 3 months later. Carcinoma can develop in esophageal diverticula and is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor prognosis.