A Case of T1bN0 Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma That Developed Recurrence 7 Years after Curative Esophagectomy

The optimal follow-up period and appropriate examinations for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who have remained disease-free for 5 years remain controversial.

A 73-year-old man was diagnosed with ESCC and underwent curative esophagectomy. Pathological examination revealed a superficial tumor without lymph node metastases, despite lymphatic and vascular involvement. The patient underwent routine postoperative follow-up at our institution and showed no signs of recurrence until the 5th postoperative year. However, his serum p53 antibody titer increased 5 years postoperatively, and careful follow-up using imaging modalities, including CT, was scheduled. No lesions suspected of recurrence were noted over the next 2 years until bilateral pleural effusion was detected on CT in the 7th postoperative year. Cytological examination of the pleural effusion revealed pleural-seeded ESCC cells.

Although several cases of late recurrence (>5 years) have been previously reported, most have a deeper infiltration depth than that of T2 or pathologically positive lymph nodes. However, patients with lymphatic/vascular involvement, even those with pT1bN0 ESCC, require careful surveillance using imaging modalities and laboratory tests, given the possibility of late recurrence occurring beyond 5 years.