Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus--a case report.

We treated a 66-year old woman with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus. The histologic features of this tumor seemed to originate from esophageal glands and their ducts. This deduction was based on the subepithelial growth pattern and the presence of in-situ carcinoma showing a glandular or squamous pattern at the location of the esophageal gland duct. Although the biological nature of this tumor was not elucidated, the prognosis is similar to that seen with the ordinary type of esophageal squamous carcinoma.