A case of esophageal cancer showing complete remission of nephrotic syndrome after esophagectomy.

Nephrotic syndrome associated with a malignant tumor may remit following resection of the tumor. This report documents a case of esophageal cancer with concurrent nephrotic syndrome in which a surgical resection of the tumor resulted in a complete remission of nephrotic syndrome. A 78-year-old male patient noticed edema of his lower legs in February 2009 and was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome. An endoscopic examination revealed an indented lesion with a nearly semiannular low elevation on the posterior wall of the esophagus at 31 to 34 cm from the upper incisors, and a diagnosis of esophageal cancer was made. A two-stage operation was planned. In March 2009, a subtotal resection of the thoracic esophagus through a right thoracic approach and cervical external esophagostomy were performed, and in April 2009, antethoracic route esophagogastrostomy was performed. The urinary protein levels were negative by the 86th day of hospitalization, and the patient progressively improved and was discharged on the 91st hospital day. There has been no recurrence of esophageal cancer or relapse of nephrotic syndrome at 12 months following the operation. In esophageal cancer patients with nephrotic syndrome, surgical treatment should be undertaken because the remission of nephrotic syndrome may be expected following tumor resection. For this purpose, selecting the appropriate operative procedures and careful perioperative management, including nutritional management, are of profound importance.