Early esophageal cancer with mucosal bridging in the resting room: A case report

Background: Patients diagnosed with esophageal mucosal bridges often experience symptoms such as chest pain and dysphagia, which pose considerable challenges for endoscopic surgical interventions.

Case summary: We present a case involving early-stage esophageal cancer discovered in a resting room, notable for the rare manifestation of esophageal mucosal bridging. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary discussion and the development of a treatment strategy, we proceeded with endoscopic submucosal dissection for the patient. During the procedure, we encountered operational challenges due to the presence of a diverticulum and a partial absence of the muscularis propria. To facilitate the retraction of a portion of the resected specimen, we utilized dental floss. Ultimately, we successfully excised the entire lesion. After a three-day period of fasting with a water-only diet, subsequent iodine water cholangiography did not indicate any perforations, and the patient was advised to transition to a liquid diet. The patient was discharged five days post-operation. A follow-up endoscopy conducted three months later revealed scar-like changes in the mid-esophagus, with the patient reporting no significant discomfort.

Conclusion: In summary, although esophageal mucosal bridges are rarely documented, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mechanical dysphagia. Furthermore, endoscopic therapy represents a feasible approach for their management.