Carcinoma of the esophagus twelve years after curative resection for carcinoma of the esophagus

A patient is presented who developed a second squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus twelve years after a curative esophagogastrectomy for a similar lesion in the proximal stomach. Factors predisposing to local recurrence at an esophageal anastomosis are reviewed. The long disease-free interval in this patient, however, strongly suggests a metachronous primary tumor rather than local recurrence.