A fatal case of small cell type undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus with sudden diarrhea and bloody discharge by CPT-11]

When a male patient(age: 63)came to our hospital to report his discomfort in swallowing on February 16, 2005, we observed that a tumor of the subcircular type 2 had invaded his descending aorta directly, which was equivalent to the range from tracheal bifurcation to esophagogastric junction. At the same time, we found multiple metastases in lymph node which were from both cervixes to the range around the aorta abdominalis, and pleural effusion on both sides. We diagnosed them as small cell type undifferentiated esophageal carcinoma(T4N4M1, Stage IVb)with esophagus lesion. We started chemotherapy with irinotecan(CPT-11)and cisplatin(CDDP)in accordance with the guideline of the treatment for lung small cell carcinoma. Five days after we began the chemotherapy, leukopenia(grade 4)and abrupt bloody diarrhea were observed. Although we conducted intensive care, on day 7 he died of multiple organ failure caused by sepsis. Pathologic anatomy reported was necrosis of intestinal mucosa which ranged widely from his duodenum to rectum. We reported this fatal case of small cell type undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus caused by treatment with CPT-11, which triggered abrupt diarrhea and bloody discharge.