Endoscopy 2007; 39: E105-E106
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-945174
Unusual cases and technical notes

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Use of proton pump inhibitors may cause squamous epithelial masking of intramucosal carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus

K. Tanaka1 , H. Toyoda1 , S. Kadowaki2 , Y. Hamada2 , R. Kosaka2 , M. Yamanaka3 , I. Imoto1
  • 1Department of Endoscopic Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
  • 2Department of Gastroenterology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
  • 3Department of Pathology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
Weitere Informationen

K. Tanaka, MD

Department of Endoscopic Medicine

Mie University School of Medicine

2-174 Edobashi

Tsu, Mie Prefecture 514-8507

Japan

Fax: +81-59-231-5200

eMail: kyosuket@qa2.so-net.ne.jp

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
18. April 2007 (online)

Inhaltsübersicht

We present here a rare case of intramucosal carcinoma arising in Barrett’s esophagus, but masked with squamous epithelium because of administration of a proton pump inhibitor.

A 70-year-old man underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy as a follow-up examination of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Endoscopy showed an erythematous irregular mucosa with white plaques, covering a quarter of the circumference in the right side on the squamo-columnar junction (Figure [1]). Histopathologically, the biopsy specimen of the lesion revealed an adenocarcinoma. Esophagectomy was proposed, but it was refused by the patient. Because the inflammation of the lesion might be too severe to perform endoscopic mucosectomy, the patient was started on 20 mg rabeprazole daily.

Zoom Image

Figure 1 Endoscopy showed an erythematous irregular mucosa in the right side on the squamo-columnar junction (arrows).

Five weeks after starting the proton pump inhibitor, endoscopy showed marked improvement of the inflammation (Figure [2]). Most of the lesion was covered with squamous epithelium, and the demarcation was unclear. The endoscopic image using acetic acid instillation revealed more clearly that the tumor was covered with squamous epithelium (Figure [3]). Endoscopic ultrasonograpy showed that the lesion was confined to the mucosal layer. We performed an endoscopic mucosectomy, and the lesion was completely resected en bloc without complication.

Zoom Image

Figure 2 Five weeks after starting administration of a proton pump inhibitor, endoscopy showed that the lesion was mildly erythematous, and the inflammation had improved. Most of the lesion was covered with squamous epithelium, and the demarcation was unclear (arrows).

Zoom Image

Figure 3 The endoscopic image using acetic acid instillation revealed more clearly that the tumor was covered with squamous epithelium (arrows).

The resected specimen showed that the lesion was in the iodine-staining mucosa (Figure [4]). Histopathologically, the lesion was diagnosed as a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma limited to the mucosa, and most of the tumor was covered with squamous epithelium (Figure [5]).

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Figure 4 The resected specimen showed that the lesion was in the iodine-staining mucosa (arrows).

Zoom Image

Figure 5 High-magnification microscopic images show well-differentiated adenocarcinoma beneath the squamous epithelium (H&E, × 100).

Intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, or carcinoma in Barrett’s esophagus can be replaced by squamous epithelium after endoscopic treatment associated with acid suppression therapy [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. However, it has not been reported previously that acid suppression alone could lead to squamous re-epithelialization over a carcinoma in Barrett’s esophagus. Thus the use of proton pump inhibitors should be monitored carefully because they may cause masking of a small carcinoma in Barrett’s esophagus.

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References

  • 1 Barham C P, Jones R L, Biddlestone L R. et al . Photothermal laser ablation of Barrett’s oesophagus: endoscopic and histological evidence of squamous re-epithelialisation.  Gut. 1997;  41 281-284
  • 2 Biddlestone L R, Barham C P, Wilkinson S P. et al . The histopathology of treated Barrett’s esophagus: squamous reepithelialization after acid suppression and laser and photodynamic therapy.  Am J Surg Pathol. 1998;  22 239-245
  • 3 Van Laethem J L, Cremer M, Peny M O. et al . Eradication of Barrett’s mucosa with argon plasma coagulation and acid suppression: immediate and mid term results.  Gut. 1998;  43 747-751
  • 4 Basu K K, Pick B, Bale R. et al . Efficacy and one year follow up of argon plasma coagulation therapy for ablation of Barrett’s oesophagus: factors determining persistence and recurrence of Barrett’s epithelium.  Gut. 2002;  51 776-780
  • 5 Satodate H, Inoue H, Fukami N. et al . Squamous reepithelialization after circumferential endoscopic mucosal resection of superficial carcinoma arising in Barrett’s esophagus.  Endoscopy. 2004;  36 909-912

K. Tanaka, MD

Department of Endoscopic Medicine

Mie University School of Medicine

2-174 Edobashi

Tsu, Mie Prefecture 514-8507

Japan

Fax: +81-59-231-5200

eMail: kyosuket@qa2.so-net.ne.jp

#

References

  • 1 Barham C P, Jones R L, Biddlestone L R. et al . Photothermal laser ablation of Barrett’s oesophagus: endoscopic and histological evidence of squamous re-epithelialisation.  Gut. 1997;  41 281-284
  • 2 Biddlestone L R, Barham C P, Wilkinson S P. et al . The histopathology of treated Barrett’s esophagus: squamous reepithelialization after acid suppression and laser and photodynamic therapy.  Am J Surg Pathol. 1998;  22 239-245
  • 3 Van Laethem J L, Cremer M, Peny M O. et al . Eradication of Barrett’s mucosa with argon plasma coagulation and acid suppression: immediate and mid term results.  Gut. 1998;  43 747-751
  • 4 Basu K K, Pick B, Bale R. et al . Efficacy and one year follow up of argon plasma coagulation therapy for ablation of Barrett’s oesophagus: factors determining persistence and recurrence of Barrett’s epithelium.  Gut. 2002;  51 776-780
  • 5 Satodate H, Inoue H, Fukami N. et al . Squamous reepithelialization after circumferential endoscopic mucosal resection of superficial carcinoma arising in Barrett’s esophagus.  Endoscopy. 2004;  36 909-912

K. Tanaka, MD

Department of Endoscopic Medicine

Mie University School of Medicine

2-174 Edobashi

Tsu, Mie Prefecture 514-8507

Japan

Fax: +81-59-231-5200

eMail: kyosuket@qa2.so-net.ne.jp

Zoom Image

Figure 1 Endoscopy showed an erythematous irregular mucosa in the right side on the squamo-columnar junction (arrows).

Zoom Image

Figure 2 Five weeks after starting administration of a proton pump inhibitor, endoscopy showed that the lesion was mildly erythematous, and the inflammation had improved. Most of the lesion was covered with squamous epithelium, and the demarcation was unclear (arrows).

Zoom Image

Figure 3 The endoscopic image using acetic acid instillation revealed more clearly that the tumor was covered with squamous epithelium (arrows).

Zoom Image

Figure 4 The resected specimen showed that the lesion was in the iodine-staining mucosa (arrows).

Zoom Image

Figure 5 High-magnification microscopic images show well-differentiated adenocarcinoma beneath the squamous epithelium (H&E, × 100).