Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting as a rare cause of dysphagia

Abstract

A 60-year-old male with prior history of laryngeal carcinoma and active smoking presented with six months of solid food dysphagia. Endoscopy showed a large, friable gastroesophageal junction mass. Biopsies revealed a high-grade, poorlydifferentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. He was subsequently started on platinum based chemotherapy and radiation therapy and his tumor decreased dramatically in size. This case is unique as neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are rarely found in the esophagus and usually have a poor prognosis at time of diagnosis.