[Submucosal endoscopic dissection in the treatment of early esophageal cancer]

We report the case of a male patient, 80 years old, with a history of dyspepsia and no family history of neoplasias. In the upper digestive endoscopy in the distal esophagus, a flat depressed lesion with the appearance of early carcinoma, type IIC of Paris classification, was diagnosed by biopsy as a squamous carcinoma in situ, infiltrating, moderately differentiated non-keratinizing grade II carcinoma. He underwent submucosal endoscopic dissection without complications. Histopathology concluded: carcinoma of squamous cells, predominantly in situ of distal esophagus, measuring 0.6 cm, with focus of 0.1 cm of infiltration in the own lamina; absence of angiolymphatic or perineural invasion. The histopathology specimen had margins of surgical resection free of neoplasia. Stage pT1a. Three months later, in the endoscopy control with biopsy of the area, there was no evidence of carcinoma. We present the case because it is still a challenge to establish the diagnosis of esophageal cancer at an early stage, especially in patients without symptoms, highlighting the importance of chromoendoscopy and a good endoscopic examination to reach the diagnosis. Submucosal endoscopy dissection could be considered as a safe and effective alternative treatment to radical surgery.