Abstract
Pseudosarcoma of the oesophagus previously has been well documented in only six patients. The present case history illustrates the characteristics originally described by Stout of a polypoid lesion composed of sarcoma-like cells adjacent to squamous cell carcinoma.
Earlier reports have postulated that the sarcomatous cells represent an unusual stromal proliferation in response to the adjacent squamous cell carcinoma. Another theory has been that the two cellular elements represent two separate lesions occurring coincidentally.
Routine microscopic examination of the present lesion revealed it to be composed principally of pleomorphic spindle-shaped cells with areas of larger, more rounded cells resembling squamous carcinoma. However, electron microscopic examination of this tumour revealed that the sarcomatous cells contained tonofibrils and particularly desmosome-associated tonofibrils. These findings, we believe, definitely establish that the sarcoma-like cells originate from squamous epithelium. It is postulated that cells of both the sarcomatous and carcinomatous elements may be derived from the basal elements of the epithelium and this may account for the relatively benign clinical behaviour of this tumour.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- DEMARCO A. R., LEON W., COLEMAN W. O., WELSCH R. A., STRUG L. H. PSEUDOSARCOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1965 Feb;49:188–193. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ELTON S. E., JOANNIDES M., Jr Carcinomasarcoma of the esophagus. Dis Chest. 1962 Jan;41:111–114. doi: 10.1378/chest.41.1.111. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HAY-ROE V., HILL R. L., CIVIN W. H. An unclassifiable tumor of the esophagus: a case report. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1960 Jul;40:107–113. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LANE N. Pseudosarcoma (polypoid sarcoma-like masses) associated with squamous-cell carcinoma of the mouth, fauces, and larynx; report of ten cases. Cancer. 1957 Jan-Feb;10(1):19–41. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(195701/02)10:1<19::aid-cncr2820100104>3.0.co;2-m. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lichtiger B., Mackay B., Tessmer C. F. Spindle-cell variant of squamous carcinoma. A light and electron microscopic study of 13 cases. Cancer. 1970 Dec;26(6):1311–1320. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197012)26:6<1311::aid-cncr2820260618>3.0.co;2-c. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Razzuk M. A., Urschel H. C., Jr, Race G. J., Nathan M. J., Paulson D. L. Pseudosarcoma of the esophagus. A case report. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1971 Apr;61(4):650–653. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SHERWIN R. P., STRONG M. S., VAUGHN C. W., Jr Polypoid and junctional squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and larynx with spindle cell carcinoma ("pseudosarcoma"). Cancer. 1963 Jan;16:51–60. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(196301)16:1<51::aid-cncr2820160108>3.0.co;2-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- TALBERT J. L., CANTRELL J. R. Clinical and pathologic characteristics of carcinosarcoma of the esophagus. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1963 Jan;45:1–12. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]