known esophageal carcinoma, 37 of whom underwent resection.RESULTS. Seventeen specimens were from 10 patients with squamous cell carci- Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most common carcinomas worldwide, and the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing.1 Despite the close anatomic relationship to the pleural and pericardial spaces and frequent high stage disease, malignant effusions due to esophageal carcinoma appear to be rare. Although malignant effusions due to carcinomas from the gastrointestinal site are not uncommon, 2-13 the majority of these appear to arise from either the stomach, pancreas, or colon. 2 -6,10,14 No large series of esophageal carcinomas in effusions exist in the literature, but isolated cases exist as part of larger series of malignant effusions. These cases in the literature include only six reported patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 15-17 six patients with adenocarcinoma, 15 and four patients with esophageal carcinomas that were not otherwise specified. 18 The Address for reprints: Andrew A. Renshaw, M.D., cytologic features of the tumors in these effusions have not been well