Endoscopic examination with iodine staining has led to the easy detection of multiple superficial esophageal carcinoma (MSEC). The purpose of this study was to better understand the characteristics of MSEC. Of 49 patients with multiple esophageal carcinomas, 19 had superficial carcinoma. Multiple esophageal carcinomas were more often found in superficial carcinomas (31.1%) than in advanced carcinomas (14.4%). Comparing the depth of invasion of multiple esophageal carcinomas, the secondary lesions represented relatively early stages. Ki-67-positive cells were seen significantly more frequently in the main lesion of MSEC than in the secondary lesions, but proliferating cell nuclear antigen positivity and p53 expression did not differ significantly. Since multiple carcinoma occurs more frequently, care should be taken to look for small secondary lesions when treating superficial esophageal carcinoma. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry suggested that tumor cells proliferate more slowly in secondary lesions than in main lesions of MSEC.

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