[A case report of synchronous double cancer of the lung and esophagus]

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our department with complaint of difficult swallowing. Upper gastrointestinal examination showed esophageal cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the middle thoracic esophagus was revealed histologically. Chest X-ray showed the atelectasis of the B-3 region of right upper lobe of the lung. Further examinations revealed histologically squamous cell carcinoma growing from B-3 bronchus. Finally, he was diagnosed as synchronous double carcinoma of the lung and the esophagus. Simultaneous operation was performed on May 20, 1988. First, right upper lobectomy of the lung and wedged resection of right main bronchus were performed. Esophagectomy and antesternal esophageal reconstruction using the gastric tube was added. The postoperative course was satisfactory without any severe complications. The synchronous double cancer of the lung and the esophagus is rare. Our case indicates that simultaneous resection of both cancer and esophageal reconstruction can be safely performed.