A CASE OF SUPERFICIAL ADENOCARCINOMA ARISING IN THE BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS

A relatively rare case of superficial adenocarcinoma arising in the Barrett's esophagus is reported. An asymptomatic 51-year-old man was admitted to the our department. He was pointed out having a tumorous lesion in the lower esophagus by radiologic and endoscopic examinations. The lesion was identified as adenocarcinoma based on biopsy, and a subtotal esophagectomy with lymph nodes dissection and esophagogastrostomy were performed. Histologically, the protruded lesion existing in the Barrett's epithelium was moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma invading submucosal layer partially. And in the dissected lymph node, metastatic adenocarcinoma was presented. Thirty-four cases of adenocarcinoma arising in the Barrett's esophagus have been reported in Japan. Of 34 cases, 16 cases had superficial type which were detected in early stage. Lymph node metastasis was found in 4 out of 14 cases of which deta on lymph node metastasis were described in those papers. So radical operation according to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is necessary for the adenocarcinoma arising in the Barrett's esophagus.