Carcinoma of the Esophagus in Patient With Psoriasis: A Case Report

Abstract

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, genetic inflammatory disease predominantly affecting the skin and joints. Although various cancers including lymphoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and lung cancer among psoriasis patients are more commonly found than the general population; carcinoma of the esophagus has never been reported. The aim of this report was to describe a case of carcinoma of esophagus that was diagnosed in a psoriatic patient. A 50-year-old Thai male presented with epigastric fullness, progressive dysphagia, vomiting, and weight loss for 2 kg within one month. Physical examination revealed multiple erythematous plaques 1 - 3 cm on the trunk and limbs. He had been diagnosed as psoriasis for a year and treated with topical creams. The esophagoscopy revealed the cancer at the lower end of the esophagus that was proved to be poorly to moderately differentiated carcinoma. The computerized tomography of the chest including the upper abdomen showed the esophageal tumor abutting the left bronchus and aorta with multiple lymphadenopathy. He was diagnosed with T3N2M1 stage that was treated with supportive gastrostomy followed by palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Because the carcinoma of esophagus has been hardly reported in psoriatic patients, it could not be easily concluded whether these two entities may have relationship or they just happen by chance.