Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after liver transplantation

The occurrence of an oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma following liver transplantation is very infrequent. Such an event has been related to a history of alcohol-induced cirrhosis, as in other squamous cell tumours of the oropharynx. We report the case of a 64-year-old male patient diagnosed as having oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma six years after having had a liver transplant due to alcohol-induced cirrhosis. The tumour was treated surgically and consisted of an Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy. The patient is disease-free 17 months after surgery. A review of the cases reported in the literature indicated treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and with excision in some cases. Generally, despite aggressive treatment the prognosis is poor.