PROXIMAL ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA: A RARE CASE REPORT daniyal_zahoor2009@live.com

 

PROXIMAL ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA: A RARE CASE REPORT

2

 

 

 

 

Pakistan

Oral only

Adenocarcinoma occurring in the upper (proximal) esophagus is exceedingly rare and typically associated with poor prognosis, even with modern therapies. This case report presents a successful outcome following exclusive chemoradiotherapy for proximal esophageal adenocarcinoma.

A 61-year-old woman of Mediterranean descent presented with marked difficulty swallowing. She was diagnosed with stage IVA (T4b N0M0) adenocarcinoma of the proximal esophagus. Remarkably, she attained complete remission following chemoradiotherapy alone, as confirmed by PET-CT imaging, without requiring surgery.

This case draws attention to the unusual occurrence of adenocarcinoma in the cervical esophagus and questions the traditional reliance on surgical treatment. It demonstrates that definitive chemoradiotherapy may be a viable standalone approach in select advanced cases.

The complete therapeutic response in this patient suggests a role for individualized treatment planning and supports further investigation into non-surgical management strategies for esophageal adenocarcinoma.