Objective: To investigate the incidence and define the diagnostic aspects of intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus and to show the trend in its natural history.
Design: Analysis of records of more than 31000 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies in a secondary referral centre.
Setting: Gastroenterology unit, Italy.
Subjects: 23 men and 2 women with endoscopic and histological diagnoses of intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.
Results: The incidence was 0.8/1000 patients/year. There was a coexisting oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancer in 17 patients. The endoscopic appearance was of a more or less well-defined hyperaemic area. Lesions progressed to infiltrating carcinoma in a mean of 18.3 months range 11-32).
Conclusions: Intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma is rare in this population. Endoscopy and histology are essential for diagnosis and staging.