Clinicopathologic Observations on Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

OBJECTIVE To investigate the histogenesis and biological characteristics and factors influencing prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (ESCC).

METHODS The expression of CK, NSE, Syn, CHr-A and CD56 proteins were detected immunohistochemically in 63 cases of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

RESULTS The ESCC cases were divided into two groups as follows: a pure small cell group (28/63) and compound small cell group (35/63). The immunohistochemistry results were positive for: CK in 41.3%, NSE in 36.5%, Syn in 90.5%, CHr-A in 60.3% and CD56 in 50.8%. The difference between staining of the pure small cell carcinoma and compound small cell carcinoma was not statistically significant. The size and depth of tumor invasion, the positive residual incision edge and lymph node metastasis were the major factors influencing long-term survival.

CONCLUSION Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a highly malignant tumor, which expresses neuroendocrine antigens. The histophathologic origin is still unknown but the non-neuroepithelial origin was accepted in this study.