Esophageal Papilloma Detected by Positron Emission Tomography.

A 63-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with breast cancer. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for staging showed the uptake of tracer in the left breast and esophagus (Picture 1, arrow). The maximum standardized uptake value of the esophageal lesion was 4.9. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a whitish, flat, elevated lesion in the esophagus (Picture 2, arrow). Magnifying observation using narrow-band imaging showed round epithelium with dilated vessels (Picture 3). Elongated, linear vessels were also seen in parts. The lesion was stained with iodine (Picture 4). A diagnosis of esophageal papilloma was made based on the results of a pathological analysis. Although oral, oropharyngeal, and anogenital papillomas are recognized as premalignant lesions, the malignant potential of esophageal papilloma is unknown. Thus, further diagnostic or therapeutic steps are unnecessary for esophageal papilloma. To our knowledge, only one case of esophageal papilloma showing the uptake of tracer on positron emission tomography has been reported previously (1). However, such uptake is well-known for head and neck papilloma (2). Although large papillomas are seldomly observed in the esophagus, the present case highlights the fact that false-positive findings on positron emission tomography can be observed in esophageal papilloma.

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The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).