Anaplastic carcinoma of the esophagus. Report of three cases and their histogenetic consideration.

The autopsies of three cases of esophageal anaplastic carcinoma with an oat cell pattern are presented. Grossly, each case revealed a fungating growth and showed extensive metastases all over the body. The histology bears a striking resemblance to that of oat cell carcinoma of the lung, occasionally showing rosette formation, mucin secretion, and intracytoplasmic argyrophil granules in each case. These peculiar carcinomas most probably were derived from the esophageal submucosal glands. They were composed of both a cell group of argyrophil variety and a group of mucus-secreting variety which may have originated from the more primitive cells capable of differentiation into either variety.