Esophageal Papilloma: Case Report and Review

Esophageal papilloma is a rare epithelial tumor of the esophagus [1], first described in 1959 by Adler et al., [2]. Its prevalence varies between 0.01% and 0.45% in endoscopic series. It is usually located in the distal oesophagus and corresponds to a single small, whitish, sessile lesion. Multiple forms, true papillomatoses, and giant forms, up to 5 cm, have been described in the literature. The endoscopic appearance is characteristic, but not pathognomonic. Diagnosis is histological, based on three main features: hyperacanthosis, hyperkeratosis and papillomatosis. Little is known about its pathophysiology. Chronic irritation of the oesophageal mucosa due to chemical or mechanical factors, and HPV infection have been suggested [3]. Esophageal papilloma is considered a benign tumor. However, recent data highlight its malignant potential. In most cases, squamous cell carcinoma has developed over a giant papilloma or papillomatosis. The risk of cancer in these patients remains unknown. No consensus on endoscopic management and surveillance is available to date. We report the case of a patient presenting with epigastralgia and an esophageal papilloma discovered incidentally on esogastroduodenal fibroscopy (EGDF).