[Two cases of bleeding from locally advanced esophageal cancer successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization]

Case 1: A man in his 60s presented with a type 1 tumor of the middle thoracic esophagus that almost blocked the esophageal lumen. On the day of tumor biopsy, the patient developed massive melena and hemorrhagic shock. Hemostasis could not be achieved endoscopically, and therefore, transcatheter arterial embolization( TAE) was performed. Shock was resolved in the patient, thus avoiding the need for emergent surgery. The patient was diagnosed as having esophageal cancer, and standard elective surgery was performed. Case 2: A man in his 50s with cancer of the middle and lower thoracic esophagus underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, we were unable to resect the tumor because it had invaded the left main bronchus and the lower lobe of the right lung. We initiated chemoradiotherapy on postoperative day 42; however, the patient developed massive hematemesis. We could not achieve hemostasis endoscopically and therefore performed TAE. The hematemesis stopped following TAE, and the patient was able to undergo chemoradiotherapy.

We successfully treated 2 cases of bleeding associated with locally advanced esophageal cancer by TAE. Our experience suggests that TAE is effective for controlling bleeding associated with locally advanced esophageal cancer.