A Case of Thoracic Esophageal Cancer with Brain and Scapula Metastases Remains Progression Free for 21 Months after Multidisciplinary Therapy

Naoya Yoshida, Nobutaka Sato, Kenichiro Yamamoto, Shinichiro Tanaka, Masaharu Odo, Takashi Kurizaki, Shigeru Katahuchi, Yoshio Haga, Shinichi Yamashita* and Satoshi Ikei

Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Medical Center
Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University*

We present the case of a 53-year-old man diagnosed with thoracic esophageal cancer with brain and right scapular metastases. We conducted chemoradiotherapy for the primary lesion and scapula, and stereotaxic radiotherapy for brain metastasis. After reevaluation, we conducted subtotal esophagectomy followed by two-field lymphadenectomy and additional chemotherapy with docetaxel. The man remains progression free in the 21 months since the first therapy. It is rare for patients with stage IVb esophageal cancer to remain recurrence-free for such a long time. We discuss our case in light of a review of the literature.

Key words
esophageal cancer, distant metastasis, multidisciplinary therapy

Reprint requests
Naoya Yoshida Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University
1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556 JAPAN

Accepted
May 21, 2008

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