Surgical Resection of Thoracic Esophageal Cancer with Interstitial Lung Disease: A Case Report

Patients with esophageal cancer often have various comorbidities, and these sometimes limit treatment choices. We describe a patient with stage IA esophageal cancer accompanied by interstitial lung disease (ILD). Endoscopic resection and radiotherapy were not appropriate because of clinically diagnosed submucosal invasion and the patient was at high risk of ILD exacerbation. We therefore selected transhiatal esophagectomy without a thoracotomy considering the risk of postoperative respiratory complications, and administered methylprednisolone and sivelestat in the perioperative period for the reduction of surgical stress. To our knowledge, this is the first report of surgical treatment for esophageal cancer with ILD. The patient was discharged without postoperative complications. Transhiatal esophagectomy is an appropriate choice for patients with early-stage esophageal cancer without lymph node metastasis who are at high risk for postoperative respiratory complications. The appropriate selection of treatment is important for patients with esophageal cancer considering the risk of complications.