[Shrinkage of resected specimens of esophageal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: There are some kinds of shrinkage in resected specimens of esophageal carcinoma; however,there were few reports on its regularity. This study was designed to investigate the degree of shrinkage in resected specimens of esophageal carcinoma.

Methods: Specimens of seventy patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent resections in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University were collected. The length of the upper margin,the tumor,and the lower margin were measured with a ruler during operation before the esophagus was removed (in situ). After the esophagus was removed, the specimens were cut longitudinally on the side opposite the tumor, then the length of the upper margin, the tumor, and the lower margin were measured again without retraction. After 48 h fixation of 10% formalin (fixed), the length of the upper margin, the tumor, and the lower margin were measured again.

Results: After resection,the shrinkage rates of the upper margin, the tumor,and the lower margin were (40.71+/-10.02)%,(83.59+/-16.57)%, and (58.41+/-12.03)% of their in situ length; after 48 h fixation of 10% formalin, the shrinkage rates of the upper margin,the tumor, and the lower margin were (40.06+/-10.50)%, (80.92+/-15.88)%, and (54.83+/-11.29)% of their in situ length (P< 0.05).

Conclusion: The specimens of esophageal carcinoma shrink remarkably after removed and after formalin fixation.