An esophageal neuroendocrine tumor with initial present dysphagia: A case report

Introduction: Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) of the esophagus are exceedingly rare, representing 1.3% of gastrointestinall NENs and 0.4%-2% of all esophageal malignancies. Esophageal NENs are classified into well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) and poorly differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NECs). Esophageal NETs commonly present with dysphagia, weight loss, and appetite loss. Case report: A 70-year-old male with a history of GERD presented with progressive dysphagia and weight loss. Endoscopy revealed an ulcerative lesion, which was confirmed to be a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma through biopsy and immunohistochemistry. A PET scan indicated a stage III tumor with locoregional lymph node involvement. The patient initiated chemotherapy and, symptomatic improvement was reported after two cycles. Conclusion: We present a case of esophageal Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (SCNEC) characterized by initial symptoms of dysphagia and weight loss. Given the rarity of this malignancy and the absence of a well-established standard treatment and staging system for Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NECs), the management of patients and prediction of patient prognosis pose considerable challenges.