摘要
OBJECTIVE To investigate the histogenesis and biological characteristics and factors influencing prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus(ESCC).METHODS The expression of CK, NSE, Syn, CHr-A and CD56 proteins were detected immunohistochemically in 63 cases of small cell carcinoma of the esophagus.RESULTS The ESCC cases were divided into two groups as follows: a puresmall cell group (28/63) and compound small cell group (35/63). Theimmunohistochemistry results were positive for: CK in 41.3%, NSE in 36.5%,Syn in 90.5%, CHr-A in 60.3% and CD56 in 50.8%. The difference betweenstaining of the pure small cell carcinoma and compound small cellcarcinoma was not statistically significant. The size and depth of tumorinvasion, the positive residual incision edge and lymph node metastasiswere the major factors influencing long-term survival.CONCLUSION Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a highly malignanttumor, which expresses neuroendocrine antigens. The histophathologicorigin is still unknown but the non-neuroepithelial origin was accepted in thisstudy.