Published online Sep 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i33.9827
Peer-review started: January 19, 2015
First decision: April 13, 2015
Revised: May 20, 2015
Accepted: July 3, 2015
Article in press: July 3, 2015
Published online: September 7, 2015
Processing time: 232 Days and 4.5 Hours
Liposarcomas rarely develop in the aerodigestive tract. Here, we present a primary esophageal liposarcoma that was discovered between the T3 and T7 levels of the esophagus during right pleural exploration of a 51-year-old male patient. The patient had presented with non-specific symptoms, including progressive dysphagia over the previous 6 mo, without complaints of chest or epigastric pain, regurgitation, or weight loss. A radical three-hole esophagectomy was performed. The tumor was extremely large (14 cm × 7.0 cm × 6.5 cm), but completely encapsulated. Upon histological examination, the tumor was diagnosed as a giant, well-differentiated esophageal liposarcoma with a dedifferentiated component. Non-specific radiological and endoscopic results during the clinical work-up delayed diagnosis until post-operative histology was performed. In this report, the clinical, radiological and endoscopic diagnostic challenges specific to the case are discussed, as well as the surgical and pathological findings.
Core tip: Primary esophageal liposarcoma is an extremely rare malignancy. In this case report, a giant, well-differentiated esophageal liposarcoma with a dedifferentiated component was removed from a 51-year-old male patient. The tumor displayed a non-specific appearance on imaging and endoscopy, which prohibited an accurate diagnosis pre-operatively. Therefore, clinical, radiological, and endoscopic aspects of the case, as well as the surgery and pathology of the tumor, are discussed in detail.