Sarcomatoid carcinoma (carcinosarcoma) of the esophagus with extensive areas of osseous differentiation: a case report

A 46 year old male presented with progressively increasing dysphagia and weight loss. Esophagoscopy showed a large polypoidal growth involving the middle segment of esophagus. Histologically bulk of the tumour had a sarcoma-like appearance composed of spindly pleomorphic cells along with extensive areas of bone formation. The epithelial element was represented by a small area of squamous cell carcinoma. One of the draining lymph nodes also showed small islands of squamous cell carcinoma. A diagnosis of sarcomatoid carcinoma was made. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the esophagus, also termed carcinosarcoma, pseudosarcoma, and spindle cell carcinoma is an unusual malignant tumour of the esophagus. The proportion of carcinomatous and sarcomatous component may vary from case to case. Rarely, the sarcomatous component may exhibit osseous differentiation as in our case.