A case of esophageal and endobronchial anthracosis

Table of Contents

A 55-year-old woman underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy as part of a general health examination and bronchoscopy for blood-tinged sputum noticed 3 days earlier. She had received treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis 20 years ago, and had been cured. She was a housewife with no history of smoking or occupational exposure to charcoal. A physical examination disclosed no abnormalities and laboratory values were within normal limits. Gastroesophageal endoscopy revealed an approximately 1-cm round, black-pigmented flat lesion with a central depression, at 30 cm from the incisors ([Fig. 1]), and two diverticula with black pigmentation, at 20 cm from the incisors ([Fig. 2]).

Fig. 1 Endoscopic findings: approximately 1-cm, round, black-pigmented flat lesion with a central depression, 30 cm from the incisors.

Fig. 2 Endoscopic findings: two diverticula with black pigment, 20 cm from the incisors.

As the lesions were very similar to malignant melanoma of the esophagus, a biopsy sample was obtained from the black flat lesion. Microscopic examination revealed atypical cells with black pigmentation underneath the mucosal epithelium ([Fig. 3]).

Fig. 3 Histological section showing atypical cells with black pigmentation beneath the mucosal epithelium (a: hematoxylin and eosin, magnification × 40; b: hematoxylin and eosin, magnification × 200).

The diagnosis of malignant melanoma was excluded. Bronchoscopic examination revealed anthracosis in the main and intermedius bronchi of the right lung ([Fig. 4]).

Fig. 4 Bronchoscopic view of anthracotic lesions in the main and intermedius bronchi of the right lung.

On the basis of the above-mentioned investigations, a diagnosis of esophageal anthracosis accompanied by endobronchial anthracosis was made.

Esophageal anthracosis is a rare disease [1] [2] [3] [4]. To our knowledge, there have been no reports of esophageal anthracosis occurring simultaneously with endobronchial anthracosis. Moreover, the mechanism of development of esophageal anthracosis is less well elucidated. There are two hypothesis: first, the traction diverticula and black-pigmented mucosal changes arise as a consequences of inflammation in the esophagus extending to the peribronchial lymph node, and second, the anthracotic pigment was deposited during a previous episode of an undiagnosed esophageal ulceration, followed by inadvertent ingestion of a coal-containing substance [1] [2] [3] [5]. The prognosis of esophageal anthracosis is uncertain and there are no reports on its treatment [4]. We think that the endoscopic findings are benign but histological confirmation is necessary to exclude the diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the esophagus [2] [6].

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AB_2AC_3AH

References

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