Healing of Malignant Ulceration in a Case of Early Oesophageal Carcinoma Presenting as Haematemesis

Summary A 77-year-old male was hospitalised following haematemesis of sudden onset. Emergency endoscopy revealed an oesophageal ulcer 5 cms in length. Biopsies taken from the margin of this lesion showed severe dysplastic changes. The patient was seen one month later, at which time his general condition was good, and there was no dysphagia. A second endoscopy showed that the ulcer had healed, and in its place was found a mucous plaque which was redder than normal. This plaque was iodonegative. Biopsies taken from this region confirmed a diagnosis of carcinoma in situ of the oesophagus. To our knowledge this is the first recorded case in which a malignant ulcer has healed.