Barrett’s Esophageal Adenocarcinoma with CREST Syndrome

Abstract

Scleroderma is a systemic and connective tissue disease. Gastrointestinal manifestations including esophageal dysmotility are common in scleroderma patients. The relationship between esophageal reflux and scleroderma has been well described; however, the complication of Barrett’s esophagus and adenocarcinoma due to chronic esophagitis is rare. In addition, there are no detailed reports on the treatment of esophageal adenocarcinoma or the pathological findings in patients with scleroderma. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with chronic cough and a dilated esophagus. The patient was diagnosed with Barrett’s adenocarcinoma and CREST syndrome, which is a form of scleroderma. Subtotal esophagectomy was performed, and the patient’s chronic cough was relieved. A surgical specimen revealed histological changes at the dilated parts of the esophagus that showed the thinning of the muscular layer with fibrotic changes.