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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Diagnosis of Neoplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus using Vital-dye Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging
Published on: May 11, 2014
Small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus: radiographic findings
M S Levine1, L Pantongrag-Brown, J L Buck
1Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, USA.
Purpose:
To determine the radiographic findings of small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
Materials And Methods:
The authors retrospectively reviewed barium studies as well as medical and pathologic records for three cases of small-cell carcinoma of the esophagus contributed to the radiologic archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
Results:
Two patients presented with dysphagia and one with chest pain. In all three patients, barium studies revealed a smoothly marginated, sessile mass with a relatively flat central ulcer on the right postero-lateral wall of the midesophagus below the level of the carina. The masses all were 4-5 cm in diameter, and the ulcers were 2-3 cm in diameter. In all three patients, the results of endoscopy confirmed the presence of a sessile mass with central ulceration in the midesophagus.
Conclusion:
Small-cell carcinomas of the esophagus can have similar findings on barium studies. Although these findings are more likely to be caused by squamous-cell carcinoma, it is important to obtain endoscopic biopsy specimens, because preoperative histologic diagnosis of small-cell carcinoma can dramatically alter the management of these cases.
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