A huge intraluminally growing polypoid tumor of the cervical esophagus: A case report and literature review of spindle cell (undifferentiated pleomorphic) sarcoma

SummaryPrimary sarcomas of the esophagus are rare. We report the case of a 43-year-old man with a high-grade spindle cell (undifferentiated pleomorphic) sarcoma of the cervical esophagus just below the esophageal inlet. A huge tumor initially measuring 10 cm in length abutting the esophageal inlet was found. It was an intraluminal tumor with only a transverse pedicle stalk connected to the esophageal mucosa and had only invaded the submucosal layer. After six courses of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (over 1 year), the patient underwent total laryngectomy, esophagectomy, and three-field radical lymph node dissection. This patient was disease-free at the most recent follow-up. Although there have been several case reports of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the alimentary tract, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the esophagus is extremely rare. The behavior of sarcomas of the esophagus and treatments are discussed, and the literature is reviewed.