esophageal carcinoma: types

1. squamous cell carcinoma (95%)
2. adenocarcinoma (4%)
   • 70% from Barrett esophagus
3. carcinosarcoma = pseudosarcoma = spindle cell squamous cell Ca
   • usually middle 1/3 of esophagus
   • large, polypoid, smooth, intramural mass; may be pedunculated
4. mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma

radiologic types:

1. polypoid/fungating form (most common)
   • sessile/pedunculated tumor with lobulated surface
   • "applecore" lesion
2. ulcerating form
3. infiltrating form
   • gradual narrowing with smooth transition (DDx: benign stricture)
4. varicoid form: superficial spreading carcinoma
   • thickened nodular tortuous longitudinal folds (DDx: varices)

© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18