Long-term survival after esophagectomy with distal pancreatectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer with pancreatic invasion: a case report

BACKGROUND: The treatment for the locally advanced esophageal cancer invading adjacent organs is controversial. We performed a radical surgery for a patient suffering from lower esophageal cancer with pancreatic invasion, and led to long-term survival. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old man with dysphagia, was endoscopically diagnosed lower esophageal cancer. Abdominal computed tomography shows that the tumor formed a mass with the solitary metastatic abdominal lymph node, which invaded pancreas body and gastric body. He was diagnosed locally advanced esophageal cancer cStage IIIC. As chemoradiotherapy was difficult because of the high risk of gastric mucosal damage, radical esophagectomy with distal pancreatectomy and reconstruction of gastric conduit were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 16 days after operation. At present, 7 years after surgery, he is still alive with disease-free condition. CONCLUSION: Esophagectomy with distal pancreatectomy may be feasible for locally advanced esophageal cancer with pancreatic invasion in terms of curability and long-term survival.