Malignant mesothelioma presenting as dysphagia diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound
Annals of Gastroenterology 2014 [Link]
Al-Bawardy B, Gorospe EC, Leggett C.
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma is a tumor involving the pleura or peritoneum. It characteristically presents with dyspnea, pleural effusions and pleuritic chest pain. Its diagnosis is established by pleural fluid cytology or pleural biopsy [1]. Based on our literature review, there are less than 10 published cases of malignant mesothelioma in which the initial presentation was dysphagia and the diagnosis was established by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) [2,3].
An 81-year-old man was referred to our hospital for worsening dysphagia. This was associated with unintentional 22 lbs (10 kg) weight loss in the past 3 months. He had underlying severe chronic obstructive lung disease and congestive heart failure. The physical examination was significant for cachexia and decreased bilateral breath sounds with occasional wheezing. He had a barium esophagogram which showed midesophageal narrowing. A computed tomography of the chest demonstrated a mediastinal mass (Fig. 1). He underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy which Annals of Gastroenterology : Quarterly Publication of the Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology
The Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology
Malignant mesothelioma presenting as dysphagia diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound
Badr Al-Bawardy, Emmanuel C. Gorospe, and Cadman Leggett
Additional article information
Malignant mesothelioma is a tumor involving the pleura or peritoneum. It characteristically presents with dyspnea, pleural effusions and pleuritic chest pain. Its diagnosis is established by pleural fluid cytology or pleural biopsy [1]. Based on our literature review, there are less than 10 published cases of malignant mesothelioma in which the initial presentation was dysphagia and the diagnosis was established by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) [2,3].
An 81-year-old man was referred to our hospital for worsening dysphagia. This was associated with unintentional 22 lbs (10 kg) weight loss in the past 3 months. He had underlying severe chronic obstructive lung disease and congestive heart failure. The physical examination was significant for cachexia and decreased bilateral breath sounds with occasional wheezing. He had a barium esophagogram which showed midesophageal narrowing. A computed tomography of the chest demonstrated a mediastinal mass (Fig. 1). He underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy which showed extrinsic esophageal compression but no evidence of an esophageal mass. EUS demonstrated an extra-esophageal, subcarinal mass that was sampled by FNA (Fig. 2A). Cytology was consistent with malignant mesothelioma (Fig. 2B). In light of his multiple medical comorbidities, the patient opted for palliative treatment. A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube was placed for nutritional support due to his ongoing dysphagia.
