A Case of Splenic Metastasis after Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Shuichi Tanabe, Ryuzaburou Sineha^*, Shukichi Miyazaki, Koh Sugawara, Go Miyata and Susumu Satomi

Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology,
Graduated School of Medicine, Tohoku University
Department of Surgery, Watanabe Hospital^*

We report a case report of splenic metastasis after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. A 54 year old man underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer in 1998. Histologically diagnosed as basaloid carcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with pN1 lymph-node metastasis. Seven months after, supraclavicular lymph-node metastasis was detected but put into total remission by radiochemotherapy in 1999. Five months after this, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound-sonography (US) showed solitary splenic metastasis. Splenectomy was conducted in April 1999, with no other metastasis seen. The man remaning alive and recurrence free in the more than 3 year following splenectomy. Splenic metastasis of esophageal cancer is very rare, and most are not respectable. For patients without other metastasis, radical splenectomy should be considered for esophageal cancer because of the potential long-term survival.

Key words
splenic metastasis, esophageal cancer, splenectomy

Reprint requests
Shuichi Tanabe Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Graduated School of Medicine, Tohoku University 1-1 Seiryocho, Aobaku, Senndai city, 980-8574 JAPAN

Accepted
May 27, 2003

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