Radiation-induced esophageal cancer: a case report and a review of the literature.

A 63 year old woman who had been irradiated for thyroid carcinoma at 36 years of age developed a cervico-esophageal stricture, the biopsy specimens from which revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Total esophagectomy was performed and a small linear ulcer was found in the resected specimen. Histological examination revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with severe fibrosis around the tumor, indicating radiation-induced cervical esophageal cancer. The characteristics of radiation-induced esophageal cancers described in the literature are reviewed in context of the present case.