A Case of Early Recurrence after Esophagectomy for Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Resulting in a Complete Response of the Primary Lesion]

A 78-year-old man presented with a chiefcomplaint ofdysphagia. He was diagnosed with an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and referred to our hospital. A type 3 tumor was identified in the lower thoracic esophagus on endoscopy. A CT scan revealed lymph node metastases at the No. 3 station. The clinical stage ofthe tumor was T3N1M0, Stage III. The patient was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of2 courses of5 -FU and nedaplatin. He had a partial response and underwent a radical esophagectomy. Histopathological examination revealed a complete response ofthe primary lesion and viable cancer cells in only one lymph node at the No. 3 station. No adjuvant chemotherapy was administered. Three months after the operation, recurrences in the upper abdominal multiple para-aortic lymph nodes were detected. Although he was treated with chemotherapy, he died 7 months after the operation. Even after a complete response of the primary lesion was achieved using neoadjuvant chemotherapy, esophageal cancer with lymph node metastasis has the potential for an early recurrence. Therefore, we should consider adjuvant therapy in such cases.