A rare cause of dysphagia: A case report on gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma in childhood

Abstract Dysphagia is a common symptom in pediatric patients with a broad differential diagnosis, while gastroesophageal (GE) malignancies represent an exceptionally rare cause. We report a previously healthy 9‐year‐old female patient who presented with 1 month of progressive dysphagia, intractable vomiting, and weight loss. Upper endoscopy revealed severe narrowing at the GE junction with polypoid lesions extending into the proximal stomach. Histopathology demonstrated poorly differentiated signet ring adenocarcinoma involving the distal esophagus, GE junction, and stomach. Further evaluation identified pulmonary metastases, consistent with Stage IV disease. Despite chemotherapy, nutritional support, and palliative interventions, the patient experienced rapid clinical deterioration and ultimately died. This case highlights the importance of considering rare malignancies in children with persistent dysphagia and weight loss and underscores the critical role of endoscopy in establishing the diagnosis.