Esophagectomy for esophageal stricture with systemic sclerosis: a case report

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by frequent esophageal involvement. However, there are few reports on esophagectomy for esophageal strictures associated with SSc. Herein, we present a case of successful treatment of an esophageal stricture associated with SSc through subtotal esophagectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old female patient was diagnosed with SSc, interstitial pneumonia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The patient developed an esophageal ulcer and benign stricture that required a subtotal esophagectomy 10 years after the diagnosis. Histopathological findings revealed thinning of the muscle layer, a characteristic feature of SSc. The patient was free of dysphagia or regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: An esophagectomy is a valuable option for treating esophageal strictures in SSc. Therefore, surgical approaches should be established for patients with SSc. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40792-023-01727-3.