A case of cancer on the pharyngoesophageal junction treated by ambulatory endoscopic mucosectomy.

A 52-year-old man underwent endoscopy because of discomfort in the hypopharyngeal region, and a 1.5-cm tumor was found on the pharyngoesophageal junction. In 1992, the patient was treated for advanced cervicothoracic esophageal cancer by preoperative chemotherapy and esophagectomy with radical lymph adenectomy and right thoracotomy. Reconstruction with a gastric substitute by cervical esophagogastrostomy was performed and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy followed. Histologically, the esophageal tumor had invaded the adventitia and showed metastases to regional lymph nodes and vascular involvement with a free surgical margin. Hypopharynx was also included in the irradiation field. Therefore, we tried to resect another primary tumor on the pharyngoesophageal junction by the endoscopic mucosectomy technique with an esophageal multipurpose tube (np-EEM). The tumor was resected on August 21, 1996, but follow-up endoscopy revealed residual or another primary tumor on the pharyngoesophageal junction in October 1996. The first resected specimen revealed a positive cut margin that might indicate incomplete resection. Three months later we performed a second mucosectomy. No problems occurred during or after tumor resection. Both treatments were performed without hospitalization, and the patient returned to his normal daily life on the day following tumor resection. Follow-up examinations have shown no sign of cancer recurrence on the pharyngoesophageal junction for more than 4 years.