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Histopathologic characteristics of early adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus
Author(s) -
Nishimaki Tadashi,
Hölscher Arnulf H.,
Schüler Michael,
Bollschweiler Elfriede,
Becker Karen,
Siewert J. Rüdiger
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19911015)68:8<1731::aid-cncr2820680814>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - esophagus , adenocarcinoma , medicine , pathology , barrett's esophagus , epithelium , cancer , esophagectomy , esophageal cancer , anatomy
To elucidate the early events of cancer development in the columnar cell‐lined lower esophagus, 13 esophagectomy specimens with early adenocarcinoma (T1) were histopathologically studied and the morphometry of the lesion was performed on a histologic map. Eleven (84.6%) of the 13 early Barrett's carcinomas were contiguous to both the distinctive specialized‐type Barrett's mucosa and squamous epithelium. Furthermore, ten (76.9%) of the 13 tumors had residual squamous islands on the surface. These data suggest that carcinomas in Barrett's esophagus mostly develop at a place very close to the squamocolumnar epithelial border. The distance from the tumor center to the nearest squamous epithelium, including squamous islands, was 2 cm or less in all cases but one. Therefore, the authors conclude that the primary site of cancer development in Barrett's esophagus is the metaplastic columnar‐lined area, particularly of specialized type, within 2 cm from the squamocolumnar epithelial border.