Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in an Active Duty Sailor: A Case Report

Esophageal adenocarcinoma develops when normal squamous epithelia are replaced by dysplastic intestinal columnar cells in response to chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In addition to squamous cell carcinoma, the two malignancies account for over 95% of esophageal malignancies. This case describes a sailor deployed onboard an aircraft carrier who initially presented with typical GERD symptoms and later developed multifactorial weight loss confounded by the operational environment. Upon return to homeport, he was diagnosed with stage III gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. This case emphasizes the difficulty in identifying and diagnosing a rare and dangerous pathology in the resource-limited, operational environment.