Multiple tiny ectopic sebaceous glands discovered throughout entire esophageal tract

Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Esophageal Ectopic Sebaceous Glands: Chronological Changes and Immunohistochemical Analysis

Esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands are very rare lesions. A series of 5 cases in a single report has been the maximum number described in the English literature to date. We conducted a clinicopathologic study of 8 cases of esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands. The median patient age at the time of diagnosis was 60 years (range, 50-71 years), and 7 of the 8 patients were male. A focal lesion was observed in 7 cases, whereas 1 case exhibited multiple lesions throughout the esophagus. Four patients had previously undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy; in 3 patients, the focal lesion had not been detected. After diagnosis, 3 cases showed spontaneous regression at least once. Immunohistochemically, sebocytes of all 8 cases were negative for the estrogen receptor (ER) and the progesterone receptor (PgR), whereas sebocytes of 5 cases were positive for the androgen receptor (AR). Basal/parabasal cells were positive for AR, ER, and PgR in 5, 7, and 4 cases, respectively. GATA3 was expressed in the sebocytes and basal/parabasal cells of 6 out of 7 available cases, whereas all of 7 available cases were negative for mammaglobin and GCDFP15. Our report provides the basic clinicopathologic characteristics of esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands by the largest case series reported in English literature to date. Furthermore, the chronological changes, particularly spontaneous regression, and immunohistochemical expression of hormone receptors and GATA3 are compatible with lesions resulting from congenital misplacement under hormonal regulation. Therefore, they seem to be congenital misplacements detectable as a result of hormonal stimulated growth.

Magnifying Endoscopy for Esophageal Ectopic Sebaceous Glands

Ectopic sebaceous glands are found very rarely in the esophagus; heretofore, several cases have been reported. The sebaceous gland is originally a source of an endodermal origin; however, there have been controversies regarding whether the origin of the esophageal ectopic sebaceous gland is ectodermal or endodermal. Ectopic sebaceous glands of the esophagus usually do not cause symptoms; thus, they are often found incidentally on endoscopy for routine health screening. Endoscopic findings are characterized by single or multiple yellow patches or nodular lesions of various sizes, sometimes with small central openings. We report two cases of esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands found incidentally during endoscopy with magnifying endoscopic findings. The lesions were in the mid-esophagus and lower esophagus, respectively, and both endoscopic findings were similar as multiple yellowish patches or plaques. Magnifying endoscopy revealed the openings of the excretory ducts surrounded by circular microvessels in both cases.

Heterotopic sebaceous glands in the esophagus, a very rare histopathological diagnosis: a case report and review of the literature

Sebaceous glands are very rarely found in the esophagus. Existing reports do not contain sufficient epidemiological, etiological, clinical, or prognostic data. Its histogenesis suggests heterotopia or metaplasia. Despite its extreme rarity, correct and generally easy identification enables establishing the proper patient monitoring.

Prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands in asymptomatic health screen examinees

Ectopic sebaceous glands in the esophagus have rarely been reported and, thus, represent an obscure medical condition. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of this lesion in an asymptomatic population. We prospectively enrolled health screen examinees who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for gastric cancer screening. An esophageal biopsy was performed in the cases in which esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands were suspected. The general characteristics of the examinees were analyzed based on their medical records. A total of 9989 examinees were enrolled, and five examinees were diagnosed with esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands between December 2012 and June 2014. The endoscopic findings of the esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands indicated multiple yellowish patches or papules, which varied in size. The histopathological findings indicated several lobulated sebaceous glands in the squamous epithelium with inflammatory infiltration. The follow-up endoscopic findings indicated that there was no grossly discernible change. In conclusion, esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands are present in 0.05% of asymptomatic subjects. This lesion is thought to be benign and is not related to clinical symptoms. Therefore, esophageal ectopic sebaceous glands do not require further treatment or follow-up, which makes endoscopists free from active efforts for differential diagnosis with other malignant diseases.

[About 2 cases of ectopic sebaceous glands in esophagus: Endoscopic and histological correlations from biopsies and resected specimens]

Sebaceous glands are cutaneous annexes located in the dermis. Focal spots of ectopy of these glands are frequently identified in ectodermal tissues: they represent Fordyce's disease. However, only a few cases of ectopic sebaceous glands have been mentioned in non-ectodermic tissue. Fordyce spots of esophageal location are unusual, and most of them have been diagnosed from biopsy specimens. We report two cases of ectopic sebaceous glands in esophagus, the first diagnosed from a resected specimen, the second from biopsies. A literature review is carried out.

Benign esophageal lesions: Endoscopic and pathologic features

Benign esophageal lesions have a wide spectrum of clinical and pathologic features. Understanding the endoscopic and pathologic features of esophageal lesions is essential for their detection, differential diagnosis, and management. The purpose of this review is to provide updated features that may help physicians to appropriately manage these esophageal lesions. The endoscopic features of 2997 patients are reviewed. In epithelial lesions, the frequency of occurrence was in the following order: glycogenic acanthosis, heterotopic gastric mucosa, squamous papilloma, hyperplastic polyp, ectopic sebaceous gland and xanthoma. In subepithelial lesions, the order was as follows: hemangioma, leiomyoma, dysphagia aortica and granular cell tumor. Most benign esophageal lesions can be diagnosed according to their endoscopic appearance and findings on routine biopsy, and submucosal lesions, by endoscopic resection. Management is generally based upon the confidence of diagnosis and whether the lesion causes symptoms. We suggest endoscopic resection of all granular cell tumors and squamous papillomas because, while rare, these lesions have malignant potential. Dysphagia aortica should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia in the elderly.

Ectopic sebaceous glands in the oesophagus: a case report and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Most ectopic sebaceous glands have been reported in the tissues of ectodermal origin. However, there are relatively a few reports of ectopic sebaceous glands in the oesophagus, an organ of endodermal origin.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of an asymptomatic 54-year-old man with ectopic oesophageal sebaceous glands. These lesions were incidentally observed in the distal oesophagus during screening endoscopy of gastric neoplasm and confirmed by histologic analysis.

CONCLUSION

Surveillance or resection with regard to ectopic sebaceous glands in the oesophagus is generally not required since there is no known malignant potential. However, anti-reflux treatment may be sometimes needed, if such symptoms are present in patients. Also, these lesions should be differentiated from other pathologic lesions of oesophagus that need to be treated. Thus, greater attention of endoscopists is required for detection and differential diagnosis of these lesions. The narrow-band imaging mode and/or endoscopic biopsy may be helpful.

[Heterotopic sebaceous glands in the esophagus: case report with review of the literature]

Heterotopia of sebaceous glands is a very rare endoscopically indistinct benign finding in the esophagus. To date only 30 cases have been reported in the literature. The lesions exhibit a considerable variation in number and size. No malignant transformation has yet been reported. From the pathologists' point of view an inflammatory or neoplastic process has to be excluded as the cause of the non-distinctive endoscopic findings.

Ectopic Sebaceous Glands in the Esophagus: Endoscopic Findings over Three Years

Sebaceous glands in the esophagus are rare and are of particular interest because of their as yet unknown origin. We report a case with ectopic sebaceous glands diagnosed by esophageal endoscopy and biopsy, with follow-up endoscopic examinations for 3 years. Few cases with follow-up endoscopic findings have been reported. In our case, there were no significant overall changes during 3 years of follow-up, but the lesions fluctuated over time. While taking the endoscopic findings of the present or past cases into account, we discuss the possible pathogenic mechanisms of this condition.

Sebaceous gland metaplasia in the oesophagus of a cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

Microscopical evaluation of tissues from a mature female cynomolgus monkey assigned to a 13-week oral toxicity study revealed nests of sebaceous cells within the mucosa of the distal oesophagus. The sebaceous cell nests showed normal differentiation from basally-oriented seboblasts to centrally-orientated mature sebocytes. No excretory ducts were found, but solitary or small groups of vacuolated sebocytes were present in the overlying normal, non-keratinized squamous epithelium. The finding of sebaceous cells, of presumed ectodermal origin, in the oesophageal mucosa, which is of endodermal origin, is of scientific interest. Different theories may explain the existence of this peculiarity, but sebaceous gland metaplasia is the most plausible. The mucosal change was thought to be unrelated to treatment and is the first case of sebaceous gland metaplasia reported in the oesophagus of a non-human primate.

Sebaceous neoplasia and the Muir-Torre syndrome: important connections with clinical implications

Sebaceous neoplasia comprises a spectrum ranging from benign to malignant. Proper histological identification is important for treatment, prognosis and potential association with the Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS). Our increased understanding of the significance and pathogenesis of these tumours has led to improved risk stratification, screening recommendations, and treatment of patients with an initial presentation of a sebaceous tumour. This review focuses on the diagnostic and histological features of sebaceous lesions, the MTS, and recent insights into the molecular pathogenesis of sebaceous tumours.