# Dysphagia after Colon Interposition Graft for   Esophageal Carcinoma

Authors: C. Spitali; K. De Vogelaere; G. Delvaux
Journal: Case Reports in Pathology
 (2012)

---

## Abstract

Colon interposition is an established technique for esophageal reconstruction. We describe the case of  primary adenocarcinoma arising in a colonic interposition graft  that was performed after total esophagectomy for recurrence adenocarcinoma derived from the Barrett esophagus.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

In 1911,  Kelling and Vuillet described the anatomic and surgical bases for the use of colon as replacement for the esophagus [1, 2].Early postoperative complications are common, including necrosis of the transplant, leaks, fistulae, and strictures at the anastomoses. Late complications are rare. We describe an unusual late complication of a primary adenocarcinoma arising in the interposed colon after a right colonic bypass in a patient with adenocarcinoma derived from the Barrett esophagus.


## 2. Case Report

A 66-year-old male presented with history of progressive dysphagia for solid food.Six years ago, he underwent a proximal gastrectomy and distal esophagectomy for adenocarcinoma derived from Barrett esophagus. Four years later, an esophagoscopy revealed a recurrence at the anastomotic site. A biopsy of the lesion showed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Further investigation showed no evidence of metastatic disease, and a three-stage procedure with total esophagectomy was performed. The right-sided colon from the ileocaecal junction to the mid-transverse colon was used in a prevertebral position to reestablish continuity between the cervical esophagus and the remnant of the pyloric antrum. Histological examination revealed a pT2N0 lesion, and the patient recovered well without major complications. Two years after this intervention, the patient developed a progressive dysphagia for solid food. Endoscopy showed a circumferential mass arising from the colon (Figure1), and biopsy confirmed a colonic type of adenocarcinoma. Barium swallow revealed the circumferential tumor at the ileocaecal junction (Figure 2). Further investigation with PET scan (Figure 3) demonstrated a tumor paravertebral right at the level of D7–D9 and no metastatic disease. Reintervention was proposed to the patient. Through a right thoracotomy an ileocaecal resection with end-to-end anastomosis was performed with preservation of the “cardial” marginal arcades artery to prevent necrosis of the proximal ileal segment.Figure 1
The PET-CT showed a tumor paravertebral right at the level of D7–D9 and no metastatic disease.Figure 2
Barium swallow revealed a circumferential mass arising from the colon.Figure 3
Endoscopy showed circumferential tumor at the ileocaecal junction.Histological examination revealed a pT2 tumor of the colon and one normal lymphenode.The patient recovered well with a good functional conduit and remained disease-free now at 24 months.


## 3. Discussion

The potential use of a pedicled segment of colon to bypass esophageal pathology was first described since the early sixthies. Colonic grafts have been used in the treatment of both benign (e.g., esophageal atresia and stricture) and malignant oesophageal pathology (e.g., cancer of esophagus and cardia).Early complications of this procedure are common, including graft necrosis, anastomotic leak, fistulae, and stricture of the anastomosis [3–5]. Other unusual sequelae, including paracolic hiatal herniation and herniation of small intestine through the mesocolon have been reported [6].Late complications are rare: progressive fibrostenosis of the graft, peptic colitis with ulceration of the colonic segment, gastrocolic reflux, and colopericardial and colobronchial fistula were described [4, 7]. The progressive development of diverticular disease in colon interposition has also been reported in previous literature by Nelson and Grayer [8].Primary carcinoma arising in a colonic interposition is obviously rare. Review of literature showed only 11 cases (Table1). These cases describe the use of colonic grafts in the treatment of both benign (e.g., esophageal atresia and stricture) and malignant oesophageal pathology (e.g., cancer of esophagus and cardia). Table 2 shows the pathology in the colonic graft at long term and the treatment.Table 1
Cases of adenoma and adenocarcinoma at the interposed colon segments for esophageal reconstructive surgery reported in the English literature.
Reference
Year of publication
Age (years)
Gender
Original disease and treatment
Time since graft (years)
Pathology
Goldsmith and Beattie [9]
1968
48
Female
Esophageal poorly differentiated epidermoid carcinomaRT 5947 rRight colon for reconstruction
2
Villous adenoma (middle part of graft)
Licata et al. [10]
1978
51
Male
Benign esophageal stricture resulting from ingestion of lyeRight colon for reconstruction
11
Adenocarcinoma (middle part of graft)
Haerr et al. [11]
1987
72
Male
SCC at the junction of mid and lower third of esophagusRT 46 Gray in 23 fractionsRight colon for reconstruction
9
Adenocarcinoma (colonogastric junction)
Houghton et al. [12]
1989
64
Male
Benign esophageal strictureRight colon for reconstruction
20
Villous adenoma (esophagocolonic junction)
Lee et al. [13]
1994
67
Male
Advanced adenocarcinoma of EG junctionJejunal graft initially with graft necrosisRight colon graft at subcutaneous rout 1 year later
14
Adenocarcinoma (middel part of graft)
Theile et al. [14]
1991
75
Female
Postcricoid SCCPharyngolaryngectomy with right colon reconstruction
20
Adenocarcinoma (esophagocolonic junction)
Altorjay et al. [15]
1995
65
Male
Esophageal stricture distal thirdLower third resection of esophagusLeft colon for reconstruction
5
Adenocarcinoma (middle part of graft)
Goyal et al. [16]
2000
78
Male
Gastric cardiac carcinomaDistal esophagectomy, partial gastrectomy with tube reconstructionGastric tube and oesophagus avascular necrosis complicated Total gastrectomy, subtotal esophagectomy with right colon for reconstruction
7
Adenocarcinoma (middle part of graft)
Liau et al. [17]
2004
79
Male
Esophageal cancer
30
Primary adenocarcinoma (middel third of graft)
Hsieh et al. [18]
2005
57
Male
Alkaline corrosive injury of the esophagus
37
Primary adenocarcinoma (anastomotic site)
Roos et al. [19]
2007
79
Male
Esophageal adenocarcinoma
7
Primary adenocarcinoma (colonogastric junction)
Spitali
2012
60
Male
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (malignant degeneration of Barrett's esophagus
6
Primary adenocarcinoma (anastomotic site)Table 2
Treatment  of adenoma and adenocarcinoma at the interposed colon segments for esophageal reconstructive surgery.
Reference
Year of publication
Pathology
Treatment
Goldsmith and Beattie [9]
1968
Villous adenoma (middle part of graft)
Segmental resection distal colon bypassand cologastrostomy
Licata et al. [10]
1978
Adenocarcinoma (middel part of graft)
Not specified
Haerr et al. [11]
1987
Adenocarcinoma (colonogastric junction)
Radio and chemotherapy because of tumor unresectable (invasion of  sternum and mediastinum)
Houghton et al. [12]
1989
Villous adenoma (esophagocolonic junction)
Resection colonic  interposition and gastric interposition
Lee et al. [13]
1994
Adenocarcinoma (middel part of graft)
Resection lower part colonic graft  and reanastomosis with jejunum
Theile et al. [14]
1991
Adenocarcinom (esophagocolonic junction)
Resection upper part colonic graft and free jejunal graft
Altorjay et al. [15]
1995
Adenocarcinoma  (middle part of graft)
Resection interposed colon and Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy
Goyal et al. [16]
2000
Adenocarcinoma (middle part of graft)
Liau et al. [17]
2004
Primary adenocarcinoma (middel third of graft)
Chemotherapy
Hsieh et al. [18]
2005
Primary adenocarcinoma (anastomotic site)
Resection whole colonic graft, cervical esophagostomy, and feeding gastrostomy
Roos et al. [19]
2007
Primary adenocarcinoma (colonogastric junction)
Resection  colon graft, cervical oesophagostomy, and feeding jejunostomy
Spitali
2012
Primary adenocarcinoma (anastomotic site)
Ileocecal resection and end-to-end anastomosisThe late development of dysphagia in a patient with a colonic interposition graft should be examined seriously.Contrast studies of colonic grafts can be difficult to interpret due to altered anatomy. Barium esophagography has the advantage of providing functional evaluation of the graft and integrity of the conduit anastomosis. However, radiographic evaluations and interpretations of the interposed colon may be difficult if there is unfamiliarity with the various surgical procedures and the postoperative appearances [10, 11].Endoscopy with biopsy should therefore be considered.Computed tomography plays a limited role in the examination of the interposed colon. It may provide valuable evaluation of the extent of the tumor invasion and for the staging preoperatively.So far, there is no definable association between the primary carcinoma of the esophagus or stomach and the colon cancer [20, 21].As more patients are followed over a long period, the later sequelae of colon interposition will become more evident. Whether the interposed segment of colon is more likely to develop carcinoma than a normally sited segment of colon remains to be seen.In our case, a pre-existing lesion of the colon was indeed missed: during the examinations preoperatively an existing little spot was not remarked on PET scan (Figure4). This was probably a tubulovillous adenoma of the colon. It is clear that examination of the colon before using it as a graft to exclude colonic disease is preferred.Figure 4
Pre-existing lesion of the colon missed on PET-CT.On the other hand, to rule out the existence of a second primary cancer arising in the interposed colonic mucosa, an endoscopy of the colonic graft should be considered regularly as follow up in the postoperative period.In summery, malignancy arising in the interposed colon graft is rare.Total colonoscopy should be included in the preoperative setting when interposition of colonic segment needs to be used for replacement of the esophagus. This is to detect unexpected lesions.Development of new symptoms in a patient with a colonic graft should always be taken seriously and investigated.



---

*Source: 738205-2012-11-04.xml*