Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus Associated with a Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome: A Case Report Documenting a Complete Response

• Published in: Japanese journal of clinical oncology Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 109 - 112
• Main Authors: Shimoda, Takuya, Koizumi, Wasaburou, Tanabe, Satoshi, Higuchi, Katuhiko, Sasaki, Tohru, Nakayama, Norisuke, Azuma, Mizutomo, Saigenji, Katsunori, Katou, Tomoya, Ogino, Mieko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.02.2006; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Small Cell - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Small Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Small Cell - radiotherapy; chemotherapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System - diagnosis; Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System - etiology; radiation therapy; small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0368-2811; 1465-3621; 1465-3621
• DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyi241

We describe a case of small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus associated with a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome. Sensorimotor neuropathy had developed 3 years earlier, and neurological symptoms had slowly worsened. Small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus was incidentally diagnosed while investigating the cause of the neurological symptoms. A paraneoplastic neurological syndrome was diagnosed on the basis of cancer and exclusion of other known causes of neurological symptoms. The patient was given combination chemoradiotherapy. There was a complete response to three courses of chemoradiotherapy, with no evidence of disease recurrence 6 years after the diagnosis. There was no progression of paraneoplastic neurological symptoms after the complete response.