[Squamous carcinoma of the esophagus with extensive pagetoid dissemination]

A case of squamous carcinoma of the esophagus with pagetoid spreading in a 59-year-old male in presented. Signs of glandular differentiation (PAS-diastase, Alcian blue) and CEA were negative in the Paget-like cells. Pagetoid spreading of squamous carcinoma and true Paget's disease are very similar histologically and very rare in the esophagus (only 6 cases reported) and they must be differentiated from each other. Paget's disease demonstrates glandular differentiation and the cells are CEA positive. The absence of glandular differentiation in the Paget-like cells of pagetoid spreading versus Paget's disease may be a good criteria to differentiate these diseases.