Complete remission with long-term survival in a patient with esophageal carcinoma and a tracheoesophageal fistula after treatment with the AIO regimen and bi-weekly cisplatin

INTRODUCTION To date, only few reports are available on patients with esophageal carcinoma containing a tracheoesophageal fistula under chemotherapy. CASE REPORT A 56-year-old patient presented to the hospital with a stenosing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus containing a tracheoesophageal fistula 3 cm above the carina. After placement of a Port-a-Cath and adequate hydration he received weekly 500 mg/m (2) i. v. folinic acid (FA) as a 1 - 2-hour infusion and 2000 mg/m (2) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as a 24-hour infusion (24-h inf.) (AIO regimen) with prior application of bi-weekly 50 mg/m (2) i. v. cisplatin. A tracheal Y-Dumont metallic stent was inserted prior to initiating systemic treatment. The patient's alimentation was completely parenteral. After three cycles of chemotherapy (six months) the patient revealed complete remission (CR) with closure of the tracheoesophageal fistula. The tracheal Y-Dumont stent could be removed and the patient had oral alimentation restored. 29 months after initiating treatment he is without evidence of disease. CONCLUSION Patients with esophageal carcinoma containing a tracheoesophageal fistula might benefit from chemotherapy and should not be generally excluded from systemic treatment.