BACKGROUND: Primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with a diffuse mucin-secreting component are not common, and the cases reported are few. The nomenclature for this group of tumors is complex and the histogenesis of these tumors is confused. Therefore, further investigation is needed. METHODS: Twelve cases have been collected from pathology files of Veterans General Hospital-Taipei from 1965 to 1995. Clinicopathologic relationship, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of these cases were analyzed and compared with the reported literature concerning this entity. RESULTS: The age, sex and prognosis for patients of this group, and the size and site of the tumors were not different from that of pure squamous cell carcinoma. The tumors continuously connected with esophageal squamous epithelium, and intraepithelial dysplasia were present in 83% cases. Positive anticarcinoembryonic antigen staining was also demonstrated in squamous epithelium, dysplastic epithelium and tumor cells with either squamous or adenomatous differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: It is believed that esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with diffuse mucin-secreting component is close to the squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND:Primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with a diffuse mucin-secreting component are not common, and the cases reported are few. The nomenclature for this group of tumors is complex and the histogenesis of these tumors is confused. Therefore, further investigation is needed. METHODS: Twelve cases have been collected from pathology files of Veterans General Hospital-Taipei from 1965 to 1995. Clinicopathologic relationship, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of these cases were analyzed and compared with the reported literature concerning this entity. RESULTS: The age, sex and prognosis for patients of this group, and the size and site of the tumors were not different from that of pure squamous cell carcinoma. The tumors continuously connected with esophageal squamous epithelium, and intraepithelial dysplasia were present in 83% cases. Positive anticarcinoembryonic antigen staining was also demonstrated in squamous epithelium, dysplastic epithelium and tumor cells with either squamous or adenomatous differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: It is believed that esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with diffuse mucin-secreting component is close to the squamous cell carcinoma.