A case report of esophageal cancer in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris: A coincidence or something beyond that?

Abstract

Background: Pemphigus is a group of rare but serious autoimmune blistering disorders, affecting skin and mucus membrane. Different reports have been published in respect to the coexistence of pemphigus with neoplasms, especially lympho-proliferative ones. Case: Here, we have reported a patient previously diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) who developed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Conclusion: Dyspepsia and dysphagia in patients with PV might not be merely due to pemphigus erosions or simply an adverse effect of systemic corticosteroid such as irritant or candidal esophagitis and should raise the suspicion of more serious conditions in case of resistant symptoms without appropriate response to treatment.