Polypoid epithelial malignancies of the esophagus.

Polypoid epithelial malignancies of the esophagus are rare tumors. One hundred fifty cases of epithelial malignancy of the esophagus accessioned to the Registry of Radiologic Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology were reviewed with respect to morphologic and pathologic characteristics. Only large intraluminal polypoid epithelial masses were analyzed. Criteria used to select cases were: (1) size greater than 4 cm, (2) expansion of the esophageal lumen by the bulky tumor, and (3) absence of constriction or wall infiltration. Twenty-two lesions met these criteria (15 spindle cell carcinomas, two carcinosarcomas, three squamous cell carcinomas, and two oat cell carcinomas). When an esophageal neoplasm is polypoid and bulky, creates a "cupola" effect, has scalloped edges, expands the lumen of the esophagus, and is pedunculated, one must consider spindle cell carcinoma as the primary diagnosis.