Esophageal Carcinoma Metastatic to the Patella

ANY type of patellar neoplasm, whether benign or malignant, or primary or secondary, is rare. Only 15 cases can be found in the literature, involving metastatic diseases to the patella. Primary sites in these cases were the breast, prostate, lung, lymphatic system, uterine cervix, melanin-forming cells, and esophagus.1-6 The following case represents only the second report, to our knowledge, of metastatic esophageal carcinoma to the patella in the literature. Report of a Case A 55-year-old man was admitted to the hospital in September 1974, with a fourmonth history of progressive dysphagia and weight loss. A barium-swallow examination and esophagoscopy showed a 10-cm esophageal mass, which proved to be epidermoid carcinoma on biopsy. In October 1974, the patient had an esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy. He received radiation therapy postoperatively and was discharged to outpatient follow-up in November 1974 in good condition. In April 1975, the patient visited the emergency room of