Adeno-carcinoma of the pharyngo-oesophageal junction and cervical oesophagus in a patient with an oesophagus lined entirely by columnar epithelium: Report of a case treated by photodynamic therapy (PDT)

SummaryA case of adenocarcinoma in the pharyngo oesophageal junction extending to the upper cervical oesophagus is described. In this case the neo-plastic changes had occurred from columnar epithelium of gastric and intestinal type: Barrett’s oesophagus. The Barrett’s mucosa involved the whole length of the oesophagus. Because of the general condition of the patient and advanced stage of the tumour surgical treatment was considered inappropriate. Endoscopic Photofrin Photodynamic Therapy was used with good palliation of dysphagia. The patient survived for 9 months, dying form carcinomatosis and oesophago-airway fistula. As far as can be documented only one such case has been previously reported in the literature.