A 38-year-old female patient presented to our fast-track ENT clinic with persistent left-sided throat discomfort and pain for several months. The throat pain lateralised to the left and radiated to her left ear. She also reported positive reflux symptoms with heartburn. At the time of review, medical management had been implemented (with high-dose oral proton pump inhibitor and raft-forming alginate); however, this yielded no symptomatic relief. Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was 11 and Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) score was 1. She was a non-smoker, and her past medical history was insignificant.\nOffice examination of the neck, oral cavity and oropharynx was unremarkable. Flexible nasendoscopy was performed, which revealed some post-cricoid oedema consistent with laryngopharyngeal reflux (Figure ). A contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the neck was normal. As symptoms continued to persist, a transnasal oesophagoscopy (TNO) under local anaesthetic was performed as an office procedure where a proximal oesophageal lesion was identified (Figure ). The lesion appeared small (approximately 3 mm in diameter), exophytic, non-ulcerating and papillomatous. It was located on the left side of the upper oesophageal mucosa, 23 cm from the nasal sill. Multiple punch biopsies were taken.\nHistological examination of the specimen revealed squamous cell papilloma of benign appearance with prominent papillae and acanthotic stratified squamous epithelium without cellular atypia. The specimen tested positive for human papilloma virus (HPV). Oesophageal manometry and 24-hour oesophageal pH monitoring indicated borderline pathological reflux with some proximal penetration (DeMeester score [DMS] = 15.9).\nThe patient then underwent complete endoscopic excision of the lesion. Histology confirmed HPV-positive squamous papilloma. Anti-reflux treatment, including lifestyle changes, was continued. Following excision, the patient’s symptoms resolved and a yearly follow-up confirmed their complete remission. It is yet uncertain whether symptomatic relief was a result of excision, continued anti-reflux treatment, or even a placebo effect associating the procedure.
A 44-year-old woman visited the outpatient clinic with reports of EGD examination showing a GEJ polyp. EGD had been performed as part of a health promotion screening, and the patient denied having any subjective symptom or past medical history including smoking and alcohol consumption. She looked generally healthy. Physical examination and laboratory test revealed that all values were within the normal reference range.\nEGD examination revealed that the polyp was located just on the squamocolumnar junction of the GEJ and presented as a 1.5-cm protruding polypoid mass with an irregular and nodular surface (). Forceps biopsy was performed to exclude malignant tumor. Microscopic examination revealed squamous papilloma showing papillary squamous epithelium with a fibrovascular core. Squamous epithelial cells of the papilloma showed koilocytosis with irregular nuclear membrane and perinuclear halo, which histologically confirmed the presence of human papillomavirus infection ().\nAfter obtaining informed consent from the patient, endoscopic mucosal resection was performed to remove the whole papilloma at the GEJ to avoid a possible increase in the size of the tumor. Histological examination of the resected specimen revealed a nodular mass with papillary growth consisting of squamous cell epithelium with a well-structured inner fibrovascular core, which was compatible with squamous papilloma. The specimen showed complete and curative resection, without involvement of the lateral or vertical margin.\nTwo years later, the patient revisited our clinic for esophageal reflux symptoms. Follow-up EGD incidentally revealed a polyp at the GEJ at the exact spot of the previously removed papilloma. The polyp measured approximately 1.0 cm and had a morphology similar to that of the previous papilloma (), suggesting recurrence. Although the polyp was smaller than that detected 2 years previously, endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed owing to fibrotic scarring and non-lifting sign at the anal side of the polyp (). The polyp was removed en bloc and completely, without marginal involvement. Microscopic examination revealed nodular mass with papillary growth. Histologic examination revealed usual papilloma showing papillary squamous epithelium, with a well-developed fibrovascular core. However, multifocal severe squamous atypia was observed throughout the mucosal epithelium, compatible with squamous cell carcinoma in situ (). The patient was finally diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in situ arising from esophageal squamous papilloma.