Synchronous oesophageal and gastric sarcomatoid carcinoma: first reported case in Australia

A 75-year-old retired teacher presents with dysphagia and weight loss for a duration of 6 months. Her gastroscopy showed two synchronous submucosal masses. A 7 cm polypoid mass was seen at the distal oesophagus, arising from a thick stalk and a 4 cm mass seen at the cardia. The biopsies showed high-grade sarcomatoid cancer. Staging CT scan and Positron Emission Tomography scan did not show any distant metastasis except a lesion in the rectum that was subsequently found to be tubulovillous adenoma on transanal excision. The patient was managed with Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy. The biopsies of resection specimen showed spindle cell/sarcomatoid carcinoma with a component of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma in oesophageal tumour and a small component of conventional invasive squamous cell carcinoma in tumour at cardia. The patient recovered well after surgery. Since then, she has completed adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. No recurrence has been noted in 10 months follow-up.