[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the esophagus]

A 56-year-old man was admitted with the complaint of dysphagia. X-ray studies and endoscopy revealed a protruding tumor at the middle third of esophagus. Under the diagnosis of esophageal cancer, subtotal esophagectomy was performed. A Borrmann type I like tumor measuring 6.7 X 3.8 X 2.2 cm was identified on the resected specimen. The surface of the tumor was irregular, nodular and covered with thin compressed esophageal mucosa. The histology of the tumor was consistent with adenoid cystic carcinoma. Incidentally, small foci of invasive squamous cell carcinoma were found adjacent to this tumor. There was no lymph node or remote organ metastasis.