Salvage thoracoscopic esophagectomy after carbon-ion radiotherapy in a patient with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for esophageal cancer has been receiving significant attention given its high local control rates and minimal damage to normal tissues. However, the efficacy and safety of salvage surgery after CIRT for esophageal cancer remain unclear. We report the case of a patient who underwent salvage thoracoscopic surgery after CIRT. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old woman underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and a type 0-IIa + 0-IIc esophageal squamous cell carcinoma located 27–29 cm from the patient’s incisors, classified as clinical stage I (T1bN0M0), was detected. She received CIRT (50.4 Gy [relative biological effectiveness, RBE]/12 fr) for localized esophageal cancer and achieved complete remission after 4 months. Six years after CIRT, follow-up endoscopic examination demonstrated a type 0-IIa + 0-IIc tumor in the previously treated area. In addition, a type 0-IIa lesion located 20–22 cm from the incisors was found. We diagnosed localized ESCC, classified as clinical stage I (T1bN0M0). Salvage thoracoscopic surgery was performed in the prone position with five access ports. Although the esophagus tightly adhered to the thoracic descending aorta and left main bronchus with severe fibrosis, the esophagus could be separated from the surrounding organs with careful forceps manipulation. The operation time and blood loss were 8 h 45 min and 253 mL, respectively. The patient was discharged from our hospital 17 days after the salvage surgery without any complications. Pathological findings revealed two squamous cell carcinomas. Both tumors were localized in the lamina propria mucosa, and lymph node metastasis was not detected. The tumors were diagnosed as pathological stage IA (pT1aN0M0) according to the TNM criteria. Moreover, pathological examinations showed severe fibrosis of the previously irradiated tissues compared to the normal esophagus located outside of the irradiation field. Following the surgery, the patient had no recurrence for 1 year and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy can be performed as salvage surgery. Careful and discreet surgery is integral to perform salvage surgery after CIRT since CIRT may cause severe adhesions and fibrosis in the irradiated field.