Splenic angiosarcoma metastasis to small bowel presented with gastrointestinal bleeding

Primary splenic angiosarcoma is a very rare, aggressive neoplasm with a high metastatic rate and dismal prognosis. This neoplasm usually presents with abdominal pain, splenomegaly, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Splenic angiosarcoma with bleeding gastrointestinal metastases is extremely rare. The literature contains only two case reports. This study reported a 44-year-old male patient with splenic angiosarcoma with sustained repeated gastrointestinal bleeding due to small bowel metastases. Salvage surgery was performed by splenectomy and resection of the metastatic small bowel tumors. The post-operative course was uneventful; the patient survived with the disease and had no GI bleeding, 7 mo after surgery.     

Lifesaving transarterial embolization using absorbable gelatin sponge particles for massive bleeding of ruptured metastatic hepatic melanoma

To the Editor:Melanoma is an aggressive malignant tumor that arises from melanocytic cells. It usually originates from the epithelial tissues of the skin, retina and anorectal canal. Melanoma is characterized by early metastases, even from thin primary tumors. The most common sites of distant metastasis are: skin, lung, brain, liver, bone and intestine. Liver involvement occurs in 14% to 20% of cases [1] , but the diagnosis is usually performed incidentally on imaging studies, since these lesions are seldom symptomatic. Rarely, metastatic hepatic melanoma can manifest as an acute condition of massive bleeding due to spontaneous rupture of one or more hepatic lesions, with disastrous outcomes for patients in most cases. In the current literature, very few cases of spontaneous rupture of metastatic hepatic melanoma have been reported, all with fatal outcomes [2–5] . Indeed, when such a condition occurs, prompt management and bleeding control strategies are essential for long-term survival of these patients.     

How much helpful is the capsule endoscopy for the diagnosis of small bowel lesions？

AIM: To assess the practically usefulness and diagnostic yield of this new method in a group of patients with suspected small bowel lesions. METHODS: Capsule endoscopic (CE) examination by using M2A capsule endoscope TM (Given Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel) was performed in thirty nine patients (26 males, 13 females) with suspected small intestinal lesions. The composing of the patients was as follows: obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in twenty three patients, known Crohn's disease in 6 patients, in whom CE was used to evaluate the severity and extension of the diseases, chronic diarrhea in 8 patients, abdominal pain in one patient and malignancy in one patient with unknown origin. RESULTS: In two patients CE failed. Different abnormalities were revealed in 26 patients overall. Detection rate of abnormalities was highest among patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and the source of bleeding was demonstrated in 17 of 23 patients with obscure bleeding (73.9%). Entero-Behcet was diagnosed in two patients by CE as a source of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. In 6 patients with known Crohn's disease, CE revealed better evaluation of the disease extension. In 3 of 8 (37.5%) patients with chronic diarrhea; CE revealed some mucosal abnormalities as the cause of chronic diarrhea. In a patient with unexplained abdominal pain and in a cancer patient with unknown origin, CE examination was normal. CONCLUSION: In our relatively small series, we found that capsule endoscopy is a useful diagnostic tool particularly in diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic diarrhea and in estimating the extension of Crohn's disease.     

Gastric metastasis from small cell lung cancer:A case report

Small cell lung cancer(SCLC) represents a group of highly malignant tumors that give rise to early and widespread metastases at the time of diagnosis.The preferential metastatic sites are the brain,liver,adrenal glands,bone,and bone marrow.However,metastases of the gastrointestinal system,especially the stomach,are rare; most cases of stomach metastasis are asymptomatic and,as a result,are usually only discovered at autopsy.We report a case of gastric metastasis originating from SCLC.The patient was a 66-year-old man admitted to our hospital due to abdominal pain.He underwent gastroscopy,with the pathological report of the tissue biopsy proving it to be a small cell cancer.Immunohistochemistry was positive for CD56,synaptophysin,and pan-cytokeratin.These results confirmed the diagnosis of gastric metastasis of a neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma from the lung.     

Coincidence between malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor arising in the gastric serosa and lung adenocarcinoma

A 4-mo history of both epigastralgia and back pain was presented in a 39-year-old male. Computed tomography showed right lung nodule and abdominal mass attached to the gastric wall, measuring approximately 30 mm and 70 mm in diameter. Since biopsy samples from the lung and abdomen revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and malignant tumor, clinicians first interpreted the abdominal mass as metastatic carcinoma, and a right lower lobectomy with following resection of the mass was performed. Gross examination of both lesions displayed gray-whitish to yellow-whitish cut surfaces with hemorrhagic and necrotic foci, and the mass attached to the serosa of the lesser curvature on the gastric body. On microscopic examination, the lung tumor was composed of a proliferation of highly atypical epithelial cells having abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, predominantly arranged in an acinar or solid growth pattern with vessel permeation, while the abdominal tumor consisted of sheets or nests with markedly atypical epithelioid cells having pleomorphic nuclei and abundant eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm focally in a radial perivascular or infiltrative growth pattern. Immunohistochemically, the latter cells were positive for HMB45 or α-smooth muscle actin, but the former ones not. Therefore, we finally made a diagnosis of malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor(PEComa) arising in the gastric serosa, combined with primary lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, small papillary car-cinoma of the thyroid gland was identified. The current case describes the coincidence of malignant PEComa with other carcinomas, posing a challenge in distinction from metastatic tumor disease.     

Double-balloon enteroscopy for mesenchymal tumors of small bowel:Nine years’ experience

AIM:To assess the value of double-balloon enteroscopy(DBE) for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors(GIMTs) in the small bowel and clarify their clinical and endoscopic characteristics.METHODS:A retrospective review in a total of 783 patients who underwent a DBE procedure from January 2003 to December 2011 was conducted.Data from patients with pathologically confirmed GIMTs were analyzed at a single tertiary center with nine years’ experience.The primary outcomes assessed included characteristics of patients with GIMTs,indications for DBE,overall diagnostic yield of GIMTs,endoscopic morphology,positive biopsy,comparison of diagnosis with capsule endoscopy,and subsequent interventional management.RESULTS:GIMTs were identified and analyzed in 77 patients.The mean age was 47.74 ± 14.14 years(range:20-77 years),with 63.6% being males.The majority of individuals presented with gastrointestinal bleeding,accounting for 81.8%,followed by abdominal pain,accounting for 10.4%.Small bowel pathologies were found in 71 patients,the detection rate was 92.2%.The diagnostic yield of DBE for GIMTs was 88.3%.DBE was superior to capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of GIMTs(P = 0.006;McNemar’s χ2 test).Gastrointestinal stromal tumor was the most frequent and leiomyoma was the second frequent GIMT.Single and focal lesions were typical of GIMTs,and masses with smooth or unsmooth surface were the most common in the small bowel.GIMTs were removed from all the patients surgically except one patient treated with endoscopic resection.CONCLUSION:DBE is a safe and valuable procedure for patients with suspected GIMTs,and it provides an accurate position for subsequent surgical intervention.     

Perforation of metastatic melanoma to the small bowel with simultaneous gastrointestinal stromal tumor

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a common site of metastases for malignant melanoma. These metastatic tumors are often asymptomatic. We describe a case of a 58-year-old male who presented with a sudden onset of generalized abdominal pain. The patient's past medical history was significant for lentigo melanoma of the right cheek. Laparotomy was performed and two segments of small bowel, one with a perforated tumor, the other with a non-perforated tumor, were removed. Histology and immunohistochemical staining revealed the perforated tumor to be a metastatic malignant melanoma and the non-perforated tumor was found to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The patient was discharged 7 d postoperatively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature of a simultaneous metastatic malignant melanoma and a GIST. Surgical intervention is warranted in patients with symptomatic GIT metastases to improve the quality of life or in those patients with surgical emergencies.     

Colonic and anal metastases from pancreato-biliary malignancies

Pancreato-biliary malignancies often present with locally advanced or metastatic disease.Surgery is the mainstay of treatment although less than 20%of tumours are suitable for resection at presentation.Common sites for metastases are liver,lungs,lymph nodes and peritoneal cavity.Metastatic disease carries poor prognosis,with median survival of less than 3 mo.We report two cases where metastases from pancreato-biliary cancers were identified in the colon and anal canal.In both cases specific immunohistochemical staining was utilised in the diagnosis.In the first case,the pre-senting complaint was obstructive jaundice due to an ampullary tumour for which a pancreato-duodenectomy was carried out.However,the patient re-presented 4wk later with an atypical anal fissure which was found to be metastatic deposit from the primary ampullary adenocarcinoma.In the second case,the patient presented with obstructive jaundice due to a biliary stricture.Subsequent imaging revealed sigmoid thickening,which was confirmed to be a metastatic deposit.Distal colonic and anorectal metastases from pancreatobiliary cancers are rare and can masquerade as primary colorectal tumours.The key to the diagnosis is the specific immunohistochemical profile of the intestinal lesion biopsies.     

Hematemesis as the initial complication of pancreatic adenocarcinoma directly invading the duodenum： A case report

Pancreatic carcinoma is a debilitating disease and carries a poor prognosis. It is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, even though pancreas, stomach, duodenum and jejunum are adjacent organs. The incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma directly invading the gastrointestinal tract leading to gastrointestinal hemorrhage is very low, and most of them present with melena and hematochezia. Here, we describe one unique case manifesting characteristically severe and unremitting hematemesis as an initial presentation of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This tumor directly invaded the duodenal mucosa as a bleeding protruding tumor mass. Our MEDLINE search has confirmed that this is the first reported case with an initial manifestation of hematemesis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma in Asians. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma directly invading duodenum complicated by hemorrhage can be a rare cause of hematemesis, and clinicians should be reminded of it while they are making differential diagnosis.     

Enigma of primary aortoduodenal fistula

A diagnosis of primary aortoenteric fistula is difficult to make despite a high level of clinical suspicion. It should be considered in any elderly patient who presents with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the context of a known abdominal aortic aneurysm. We present the case of young man with no history of abdominal aortic aneurysm who presented with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Initial misdiagnosis led to a delay in treatment and the patient succumbing to the illness. This case is unique in that the fistula formed as a result of complex atherosclerotic disease of the abdominal aorta, and not from an aneurysm.     

Small bowel metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung: clinical findings and outcome

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic small bowel metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung have been rarely reported. The aim of this study was to describe clinical presentation and outcome in a series of patients. METHODS: Between 1984 and 1996, 1544 patients with lung cancer were referred to our institution for surgery and 1399 were operated on. Seven of them developed a symptomatic small bowel metastasis. Clinical, radiological, and pathology records were reviewed. RESULTS: In 6 of 7 patients, the lung cancer was previously operated on from 0.5 to 24 months before the diagnosis of small bowel metastasis. In 1 patient, the primary tumor was diagnosed after small bowel metastasis resection. Clinical symptoms at presentation were acute peritonitis in 2 patients, progressive digestive obstruction in 3, and gastrointestinal bleeding in 2. The diagnosis was suspected on abdominal ultrasonography in 2 cases, and small bowel radiography in 3 cases. It was confirmed either by computed tomographic scan or by push enteroscopy. All patients underwent operation (intestinal resection in 6 and bypass in 1) with no postoperative death. Small bowel metastases were located in the jejunum in 2 patients, in the ileum in 3, and in both sites in 2. Histological features of the metastases were identical to the primary tumor: squamous cell carcinoma (n = 3), undifferentiated large cell carcinoma (n = 2), adenosquamous carcinoma (n = 1), and adenocarcinoma (n = 1). In 6 patients, small bowel metastases were associated with other metastatic sites. Six patients died within 8 months after metastasis resection. One patient was alive 22 months after bowel resection. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic small bowel metastases can occur early in the course of lung cancer. Resection should be considered as the best palliative treatment to prevent bowel obstruction or peritonitis.     

Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to Superior Mesenteric Artery to Duodenum Fistula: Rare Complication of Metastatic Lung Carcinoma

Although metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung to the small intestine appear to be more common than previously suspected, they rarely produce symptoms. Such metastases may present as bowel perforations. Overt gastrointestinal bleeding has been described only as a prelude to perforation. We describe the case of a 55-yr-old man with carcinoma of the lung that had metastasized to the brain and to the third part of the duodenum. The duodenal metastasis presented with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The metastasis was seen to be actively bleeding at endoscopy, and a direct fistula from a branch of the superior mesenteric artery to the third part of the duodenum was shown angiographically. Arterial invasion and destruction by tumor was confirmed at postmortem examination. This complication of metastatic carcinoma of the lung has not been previously described in the English literature.     

Jejunal intussusception with gastrointestinal bleeding caused by metastatic lung cancer]

Intestinal intussusception caused by metastatic tumor is uncommon. Symptomatic small bowel metastases from lung cancer have been rarely reported. Here we report a case of intussusception with gastrointestinal bleeding induced by jejunal metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer with a review of the literature. A 52-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of melena. He had underwent right pneumonectomy and received systemic chemotherapy with radiotherapy for squamous cell lung cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy failed to reveal bleeding focus. Abdominal CT scan revealed jejunal intussusception and histologic examination of resected jejunum showed metastatic mass from lung cancer. In patients with small bowel obstruction and history of malignancies, possibility of small bowel metastatic tumor should be considered.     

Annular malignancies of the small bowel

True annular malignancies of the small bowel with mucosal destruction and shelflike margins are generally thought to be caused by primary adenocarcinoma. At our institution, 18 annular malignancies were diagnosed radiographically in the small bowel by enteroclysis (16 cases) and conventional small bowel follow-through studies (2 cases) between 1977 and 1984. However, pathologic data revealed only 4 primary adenocarcinomas with 10 metastatic lesions (6 colon cancers, 2 malignant melanomas, 1 lung cancer, and 1 cervical cancer), 2 leiomyosarcomas, 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 1 malignant carcinoid tumor. While these lesions may be indistinguishable radiographically, annular carcinomas tended to be short, relatively nonobstructing lesions; annular metastases (except those from malignant melanoma) tended to be highly obstructing lesions with significant narrowing and/or angulation of the bowel. Leiomyosarcomas, lymphoma, and metastases from malignant melanoma tended to be longer lesions with extensive ulceration, wider channels, and little or no evidence of obstruction. Nevertheless, surgical resection or biopsy of the lesion is ultimately required for a definitive diagnosis.     

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding as a metastatic manifestation of breast cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old woman with known metastatic lobular breast cancer presented with fever, epigastric pain, hematemesis, and melena. A bleeding, ulcerated gastric metastasis was found and was treated with endoscopic therapy, omeprazole, and hormonal therapy. The patient was alive and well 13 months later. The bleeding was probably precipitated by necrosis of the lesion during chemotherapy. DISCUSSION: Gastrointestinal tract metastases from primary breast carcinoma are present in 14% to 35% of cases in autopsy series, with gastric involvement in 6% to 18% of cases. Recognized much less commonly during life than in autopsy studies, they can occur anywhere in the gut and can mimic virtually any gastrointestinal disorder. Endoscopy and barium studies facilitate diagnosis. Gastric lesions that have been noted include "linitis plastica", nodules, polyps, and ulcers. They are usually due to lobular breast carcinoma and resemble primary gastric carcinoma on microscopy. Reported cases of bleeding gastric metastases have been treated successfully with various local and systemic modalities. The median survival time of reviewed cases was four months from presentation (with a range of zero to 24 months). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal metastasis is an underdiagnosed complication of breast cancer. Gastrointestinal bleeding from metastatic breast cancer is an uncommon presentation that is readily diagnosed and that can be treated successfully by endoscopic hemostatic therapy.     

Jejunal metastasis from choriocarcinoma. A three-case report

Five per cent of patients presenting with choriocarcinoma develop small bowel metastasis. Tumors of the small bowel are rare and the metastases are generally from lung and breast carcinoma or from melanoma. Clinical presentation is vague and the majority of cases are autopsy findings. The main symptoms are related to the presence of abdominal tumor or hemorrhage, or bowel obstruction or perforation. We present the cases of three patients with small bowel metastasis from choriocarcinoma. A 24-year-old woman with bowel obstruction secondary to intussusception caused by a metastatic choriocarcinoma polypoid mass and two men, one 18 years old and the other 24 years old, with a history of testicular tumor, who presented with gastrointestinal bleeding due to small bowel metastasis from choriocarcinoma, 2 and 10 months after orchiectomy, respectively. Management was endoscopic in one case and surgical in the other two. Two patients died in the early postoperative period and one patient died during the first year of follow-up. Choriocarcinoma metastases are very rare and their main clinical manifestations are hemorrhage and bowel obstruction. Management can be either medical or surgical. The majority of patients with choriocarcinoma respond to chemotherapy but prognosis is worse for those patients presenting with small bowel metastasis.     

An unusual differential diagnosis of penile warts: metastases from rectal carcinoma

Patients with penile lesions, such as virally induced papillomata, frequently present to genitourinary medicine clinics and general practitioners. Their diagnosis is usually based on clinical observation and biopsy is not generally undertaken. Penile lesions may rarely have a more sinister aetiology and represent metastatic spread from solid tumours arising at distant sites. Penile metastases arise most frequently from genitourinary cancers (prostate, bladder and kidney), but may also arise from tumours of the large bowel; other primary sites are extremely uncommon. We report the case of a patient presenting with penile metastases from rectal carcinoma arising during third-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease.     

Skin metastasis from an occult esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Metastases to the skin from carcinoma arising in other organs are uncommon, yet they may be the first presentation of neoplastic disease. They usually originate from primary tumours in the breast, lung or colon. Skin metastases from esophageal adenocarcinoma are extremely rare. A unique case of an otherwise healthy patient who presented with a small, painless, mobile, clinically localized facial skin nodule is reported. A biopsy revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma, and subsequent investigations detected the primary tumour in the esophagus, despite no symptoms.