Small mucosal carcinoma of the stomach with para-aortic lymph node metastasis: a case report and review of the literature.

A 38-year-old woman presented with a mucosal gastric carcinoma measuring 0.7 x 0.5 cm and para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Radiographic and endoscopic studies showed a small depressed lesion on the anterior border of the gastric angle, which was classified as a type II c + III lesion. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed a signet-ring cell carcinoma. Distal gastrectomy with wide lymph node excision was performed. Detailed study of the resected specimen revealed that the tumour was limited to the mucosa, but metastasized to both the perigastric and para-aortic lymph nodes. The patient received adjuvant immunochemotherapy postoperatively. However, multiple bone metastases developed at 3 years and she died 4 years after the operation.     

Cardiac tamponade caused by spontaneous rupture of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Rupture of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a well-known cause of death in patients with HCC. This report describes a rare case of HCC presenting as cardiac tamponade caused by a spontaneous rupture of mediastinal lymph node metastasis into the pericardial space. A transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of internal thoracic artery successfully controlled the bleeding, and the patient was rescued from cardiac tamponade. Although there was no rebleeding, the patient died from liver failure 2 months later. An autopsy revealed a poorly differentiated HCC in the liver, lung and mediastinal lymph nodes.     

Early gastric cancer giving rise to bone and brain metastases--a review of the Japanese literature

A forty-year-old female consulted a hospital complaining of epigastralgia. She underwent endoscopy, which showed irregular shaped ulceration with fold convergence; the biopsy specimen revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. She underwent subtotal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection. Histological findings revealed the signet-ring-cell cancer confined to the mucosa and no lymph node metastasis. The serum carcinoembryonic antigen was elevated 2 years and 11 months after operation. Bone scintigraphy demonstrated multiple accumulation and bone biopsy of the sacrum revealed the metastatic gastric cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation, however, later complained of nausea, vomiting, and diminished visual acuity. Brain computed tomography revealed multiple brain metastasis. She died 3 years and 6 months after her operation. We reviewed the 39 reported cases of early gastric cancer with bone metastasis in Japan, which suggests that signet-ring-cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated carcinoma have a possibility of bone metastasis even though the early gastric cancer is confined to the mucosa.     

Eight-year survival after advanced gastric cancer treated with S-1 followed by surgery

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer, with cervical, axillary, and abdominal paraaortic lymph node metastases, that was successfully treated with chemotherapy and surgery. The disease was initially considered unresectable, and the patient was treated with orally administered S-1. Chemotherapy was effective, and all lymph node metastases disappeared after 6 courses. After 27 mo of chemotherapy, the patient underwent curative surgery, with subtotal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection. Histopathologic...     

EARLY GASTRIC CANCER WITH WIDESPREAD DUODENAL INVASION WITHIN THE MUCOSA

We report a rare case of early gastric cancer confined to the mucosal layer with extensive duodenal invasion, curatively removed with distal gastrectomy. An 84‐year‐old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital with gastric cancer. A barium meal examination and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an irregular nodulated lesion measuring 6.5 x 5.5 cm in the gastric antrum and an aggregation of small nodules in the duodenal bulb. A biopsy specimen showed well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent distal gastrectomy with partial resection of the duodenal region containing the tumor and regional lymph node dissection, with no complication. Histological examination of the resected tissue confirmed well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma limited to the mucosal layer and without lymph node metastasis. The cancer extended into the duodenum as far as 38 mm distant from the pyloric ring, and the resected margins were free of cancer cells. Gastric cancer located adjacent to the pyloric ring thus has the potential for duodenal invasion, even when tumor invasion is confined to the mucosal layer. In such cases, care should be taken during examinations to detect duodenal invasion, and the distal surgical margin must be negative given sufficient duodenal resection.     

Tonsillar metastasis of gastric cancer

Metastasis from a malignant tumor to the palatine tonsils is rare, with only 100 cases reported in the English-language literature. Tonsillar metastasis from a gastric cancer is very rare. We report here a case of palatine tonsillar metastasis after gastric cancer surgery. The patient was an 88-year-old woman who had gastric cancer with abdominal wall invasion. She had undergone a distal gastrectomy with abdominal wall resection and D2 lymph node dissection. Histologically, the tumor was primarily a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. It was stage IV (T4, N1, M0) using TNM clinical classification. The patient developed pharyngeal discomfort and abdominal pain and was hospitalized during the follow-up period, 1 year 9 months post-operatively. Multiple lung metastases, Virchow’s lymph node metastasis, and adrenal metastasis were observed. A mass of 2.5 cm was also observed in the right palatine tonsil. It was diagnosed as a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, a metastasis from gastric cancer. There was a concern of asphyxiation due to hemorrhage of the tumor; however, the tumor dislodged approximately 10 days after biopsy and tonsillar recurrence was not observed. The patient died 1 year 10 months post-operatively. In the literature there are cases with tonsillar metastases where surgical treatment, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were performed and extension of survival was seen. Tonsillar metastasis is a form of systemic metastasis of a malignant tumor, and there is a high risk for asphyxiation from tumor dislodgement or hemorrhage. Thus, it is important to recognize tonsillar metastasis as an oncologic emergency.     

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colon at early stage： A case report and a review of the literature

A 67-year-old man, who had undergone surgery to resect multiple gastric cancers 4 years ago, visited our hospital for surveillance colonoscopy. Colonoscopy revealed a discolored, 7-mm in diameter, flat-elevated lesion with central depression in the transverse colon near the splenic flexure. Although the findings of endoscopy and barium enema were suggestive of submucosal invasion, the patient chose to undergo endoscopic mucosal resection. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma and a positive surgical margin. A second operation was performed, and no residual tumor or metastasis to lymph nodes was found in the resected specimens. Primary colorectal cancers composed of signet-ring cell carcinoma detected and treated at an early stage are extremely rare. We present a case and review the literature.     

Clinicopathologic factors and molecular markers related to lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer

AIM: To analyze predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.METHODS: We analyzed 1104 patients with early gastric cancer(EGC) who underwent a gastrectomy with lymph-node dissection from May 2003 through July 2011. The clinicopathologic factors and molecular markers were assessed as predictors for lymph node metastasis. Molecular markers such as microsatellite instability, human mut L homolog 1, p53, epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2) were included. The χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine clinicopathologic parameters.RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was observed in 104(9.4%) of 1104 patients. Among 104 cases of lymph node positive patients, 24 patients(3.8%) were mucosal cancers and 80 patients(16.7%) were submucosal. According to histologic evaluation, the number of lymph node metastasis found was 4(1.7%) for well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, 45(11.3%) for moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, 36(14.8%) for poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and 19(8.4%) for signet ring cell carcinoma. Of 690 EGC cases, 77 cases(11.2%) showed EGFR overexpression. HER2 overexpression was present in 110 cases(27.1%) of 406 EGC patients. With multivariate analysis, female gender(OR = 2.281, P = 0.009), presence of lymphovascular invasion(OR = 10.950, P 0.0001), diameter(≥ 20 mm, OR = 3.173, P = 0.01), and EGFR overexpression(OR = 2.185, P = 0.044) were independent risk factors for lymph node involvement.CONCLUSION: Female gender, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion and EGFR overexpression were predictive risk factors for lymph node metastasis in EGC.     

Krukenberg tumor from gastric mucosal carcinoma without lymphatic or venous invasion: report of a case

A 49-year-old woman was admitted because of early gastric carcinoma. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed. In the resected specimen, gastric mucosal carcinoma without lymph node metastases was located in the prepyloric region. Histologic type was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and signetring cell carcinoma, and there was no lymphatic or venous invasion. One year after operation, a left ovarian tumor was detected. At the second operation, bilateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy were performed. Pathological findings revealed Krukenberg tumors originating from the gastric carcinoma in the bilateral ovaries. One year after the second operation, a hard mass due to cancer recurrence developed in the pelvis with symptoms including tenesmus and abdominal pain. Chemotherapy and palliative colostomy were performed. She died of peritonitis carcinomatosa six years and two months after the first operation. We experienced a rare case of Krukenberg tumor with two interesting points; its origin was gastric mucosal carcinoma without lymphatic or venous invasion, and the patient survived for more than four years after the diagnosis.     

Gastric cancer following total proctocolectomy for colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis

Here we report a case of advanced gastric cancer seen after total proctocolectomy for an early colon cancer associated with ulcerative colitis (UC). A 42-year-old man, diagnosed with UC at the age of 21, had undergone total proctocolectomy at the age of 38 for an early ascending colon cancer. Three years later the patient developed tarry stools and epigastric discomfort. Laboratory data showed anemia together with elevated serum p53 antibody. Gastric endoscopy showed thickening folds around a lesion in the stomach body. The pathological diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell carcinoma. Total gastrectomy was performed and the resected specimens showed a diffuse infiltrating tumor (scirrhous gastric carcinoma), 11 × 15 cm in size, with multiple lymph node metastases. Histopathological examination revealed diffuse infiltration of cancer cells throughout the gastric wall and invasion of the serosa. Results of cytology on abdominal lavage were positive for cancer cells. Likewise, immunohistochemical staining showed gastric mucin phenotype cancer cells positive for p53. In conclusion, it is important to bear in mind that patients with UC, especially chronically active pancolitis, potentially bear the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications.     

Differentiated adenocarcinoma with a gastric phenotype in the stomach: difficulties in clinical and pathological diagnoses

Differentiated-type adenocarcinoma with gastric phenotype of the stomach is rare and is difficult to diagnose both clinically and pathologically. We report a case of differentiated-type adenocarcinoma with a gastric phenotype in the stomach. A 60-year-old Japanese female was referred to our hospital with gastric cancer. A barium meal examination and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a granular elevated lesion in the lower body near the lesser curvature and a depressed lesion on the antrum. A biopsy specimen showed benign atrophic mucosa in a granulated lesion and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in the depressed lesion. The patient underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination of the resected tissue confirmed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the granulated lesion and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma in the depressed lesion, without lymph node metastasis. Both lesions were confined to the mucosa. Since mucin immunohistochemistry revealed MUC5AC-positive staining in the granulated lesion, the final diagnosis was differentiated-type adenocarcinoma with gastric phenotype in the stomach. Despite the high malignant potential, the clinical and pathological diagnoses of gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma are often difficult. Mucin immunohistochemistry together with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining may be helpful in the pathological diagnosis of this rare disease.     

Recurrent advanced gastric cancer diagnosed 20 years after partial gastrectomy

A 67-year-old woman underwent partial gastrectomy (por2+sig, stage IIIA) for gastric cancer. She was admitted to our hospital because of swelling of her left neck lymph nodes 20 years after surgery. A biopsy specimen revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell carcinoma. We diagnosed recurrence of gastric cancer and gave chemotherapy, but she died of myelosuppression and disseminated intravascular coagulation 2 years later. On autopsy, we examined all organs except the brain, but the primary lesion was not recognized. We concluded that this case was late recurrence after partial gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer.     

Lymphatic vessel invasion detected by monoclonal antibody D2-40 as a predictor of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer

Objective  When selecting patients who are at high risk for lymph node metastasis, the detection of lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) is important. We investigated LVI detected by D2-40 staining as a predictor of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer. Materials and methods  Clinicopathological factors including LVI were investigated in 136 patients who underwent colectomy with lymph node dissection for T1 colorectal cancer. We used immunostaining with monoclonal antibody D2-40 to detect LVI. Results  Lymph node metastases were found in 18 patients (13.2%), and LVI were detected in 45 (33%); lymph node metastasis was more frequently observed in LVI-positive groups (13/45 vs 5/91, p < 0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that LVI detected by D2-40 and a poorly differentiated histology at the invasion front were independent risk factors of lymph node metastasis. Conclusion  LVI detected by D2-40 is important for the prediction of lymph node metastasis.     

Successful resection of metachronous para-aortic,Virchow lymph node and liver metastatic recurrence of rectal cancer

A 66-year-old female presented with the main complaint of defecation trouble and abdominal distention. With diagnosis of rectal cancer, c SS, c N0, c H0, c P0, c M0 c Stage Ⅱ, Hartmann's operation with D3 lymph node dissection was performed and a para-aortic lymph node and a disseminated node near the primary tumor were resected. Histological examination showed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, p SS, p N3, p H0, p P1, p M1(para-aortic lymph node, dissemination) f Stage Ⅳ. After the operation, the patient received chemotherapy with FOLFIRI regimen. After 12 cycles of FOLFIRI regimen, computed tomography(CT) detected an 11 mm of liver metastasis in the posteroinferior segment of right hepatic lobe. With diagnosis of liver metastatic recurrence, we performed partial hepatectomy. Histological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma as a metastatic rectal cancer with cut end microscopically positive. After the second operation, the patient received chemotherapy with TS1 alone for 2 years. Ten months after the break, CT detected a 20 mm of paraaortic lymph node metastasis and a 10 mm of lymph node metastasis at the hepato-duodenal ligament. With diagnosis of lymph node metastatic recurrences, we performed lymph node dissection. Histological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma as metastatic rectal cancer in paraaortic and hepato-duodenal ligament areas. After the third operation, we started chemotherapy with modified FOLFOX6 regimen. After 2 cycles of modified FOLFOX6 regimen, due to the onset of neutropenia and liver dysfunction, we switched to capecitabine aloneand continued it for 6 mo and then stopped. Eleven months after the break, CT detected two swelling 12 mm of lymph nodes at the left supraclavicular region. With diagnosis of Virchow lymph node metastatic recurrence, we started chemotherapy with capecitabine plus bevacizumab regimen. Due to the onset of neutropenia and hand foot syndrome(Grade 3), we managed to continue capecitabine administration with extension of interval period and dose reduction. After 2 years and 2 mo from starting capecitabine plus bevacizumab regimen, Virchow lymph nodes had slowly grown up to 17 mm. Because no recurrence had been detected besides Virchow lymph nodes for this follow up period, considering the side effects and quality of life, surgical resection was selected. We performed left supraclavicular lymph node dissection. Histological examination revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma as a metastatic rectal cancer. After the fourth operation, the patient selected follow up without chemotherapy. Now we follow up her without recurrence and keep her quality of life high.     

Conversion surgery after S-1 plus oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases

Conversion therapy for gastric cancer is a new therapeutic concept. We report a case of a patient with advanced gastric cancer who underwent conversion surgery due to a remarkable regression of multiple liver metastases following chemotherapy. A 71-year-old man was referred to our hospital with gastric cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed an irregular, nodular, ulcerated lesion in the lower third of the stomach. Analysis of biopsy specimens revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed multiple liver mass lesions. The patient was clinically diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with liver metastases and received S-1 plus oxaliplatin chemotherapy. After 6 cycles of chemotherapy, CT and magnetic resonance imaging showed complete resolution of the liver metastases, and EGD detected mucosal irregularities only. Since there was no evidence of further metastatic lesions in other organs, the patient underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. The gross appearance of the surgically resected specimen showed a slightly elevated tumor measuring 4.5?×?3.5 cm. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a moderately differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma invading the muscularis propria with no lymph node metastases. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient has continued to receive S-1 and oxaliplatin chemotherapy, and there has been no evidence of recurrence for 3 months following the operation. We propose that conversion therapy might be an effective treatment for patients with advanced gastric cancer; however, further studies and assessments are needed to confirm and establish this treatment strategy.     

Adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct: a case report and review of the literature

Extrahepatic bile duct cancer with an endocrine cell component has rarely been reported. We report here on a case of adenoendocrine cell carcinoma in the middle bile duct. An 82-year-old man was admitted to hospital for jaundice and anorexia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examination showed a papillary low-density mass in the middle bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed obstruction of the bile duct, and blushing cytology of the bile duct revealed an adenocarcinoma. We resected the extrahepatic bile duct with regional lymph node dissection. A pathological examination revealed a neuroendocrine component showing small cytoplasmic cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and a rosette-like structure in the middle of the tumor. In the peripheral mucosal region, there was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma composed of columnar and cuboidal epithelial cells with clear and slightly granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for CD56, following the diagnosis of adenoendocrine cell carcinoma. The Ki-67 rate was >30% suggesting a small-cell endocrine carcinoma. The adenocarcinoma component infiltrated into the endocrine component, and some of the endocrine component was positive for cytokeratin, suggesting transdifferentiation of the adenocarcinoma into the endocrine component rather than originating from the common precursor cell. The patient experienced liver metastasis 3 months after the operation and died 6 months after the operation. Adenoendocrine tumor of the bile duct is extremely rare and adjuvant chemotherapy is necessary according to the malignant potential of the neuroendocrine tumor rather than the adenocarcinoma.     

Predictive factors of lymph node metastasis in patients with undifferentiated early gastric cancers

BACKGROUND: For intramucosal differentiated early gastric cancer that has little risk of lymph node metastasis, local treatment such as endoscopic mucosal resection has been generally accepted as an adequate treatment. We studied clinicopathological characteristics of undifferentiated early gastric cancer at our institution to identify the predictive factors for lymph node metastasis and qualify lesions that should be referred for gastrectomy and not endoscopic mucosal resection. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological features (patient age and gender, tumor size, location, macroscopic type and histological type, presence of ulceration, depth of tumor invasion, and lymphatic-vascular involvement) in 332 patients with undifferentiated early gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with regional lymph node dissection. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was observed in 45 patients (14%). Univariate analysis revealed that depth of tumor invasion (submucosa), tumor size (>30 mm), and lymphatic-vascular involvement (positive) were associated with lymph node metastasis. Only lymphatic-vascular involvement (positive) was found to have a significant association (odds ratio, 7.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-19.0) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatic-vascular involvement was the only independent predictive risk factor for lymph node metastasis. This pathologic factor was not useful for identifying patients at high risk of lymph node metastasis who should be offered gastrectomy rather than endoscopic mucosal resection.     

Lymph node metastasis after endoscopic submucosal dissection of a differentiated gastric cancer confined to the mucosa with an ulcer smaller than 30 mm

In the expanded indications for endoscopic resection, Japanese guidelines for gastric cancer include differentiated cancers confined to the mucosa with an ulcer <30 mm. We describe a patient with lymph node metastasis after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for a tumor of this indication. The patient was a 70‐year‐old man with chronic hepatitis C. He underwent ESD for early gastric cancer in May 2010. Pathology revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 22 × 17 mm in size, that was confined to the mucosa with an ulcer. The horizontal and vertical margins were negative for the tumor. We diagnosed thiscase as curative resection of expanded indication and followed this patient with endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography (AUS) or enhanced computed tomography (CT) approximately every 6 months. After 17 months, lymph node metastasis was detected with AUS and CT and diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy in August 2011. Distal gastrectomy with D2 dissection was carried out in December 2011. Although it is low, the possibility of recurrence should be borne in mind after endoscopic treatment of early gastric cancer, despite its inclusion in the expanded indications for endoscopic resection.     

Clinical results and prognostic factors of radiologically node-positive gastric carcinoma

Lymph node metastasis determined by histologic examination is an important prognostic indicator in gastric carcinoma. However, prognostic value of lymph node metastasis detected by computed tomography (CT) is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical results and prognostic factors of patients with radiologically node-positive gastric carcinoma. The study included 78 patients with primary gastric carcinoma and lymph node metastasis confirmed by CT. The level of lymph node metastasis was simply graded as follows: level I included perigastric nodes; level II included intermediate nodes along the left gastric, common hepatic, and celiac arteries; and level III included distant nodes along the hepatoduodenal ligament, pancreas, spleen, and abdominal aorta. Sixty patients (79%) had stage IV tumors showing one or more of the following: level III lymph node metastasis in 37, pancreatic invasion in 27, peritoneal dissemination in 23, and liver metastasis in 19. Overall 1- and 5-year survival rates were 29% and 6%, respectively, and the 1-year survival rate was significantly influenced by the level of lymph node metastasis on CT (55% for level I, 27% for level II, 7% for level III, P < 0.01). In patients with gastrectomy, prognostic factors were tumor size (<10 cm versus >10 cm, P < 0.01), gross type (localized versus infiltrative, P < 0.01), histologic type (well differentiated versus poorly differentiated, P < 0.01), and curability of the disease (curative versus noncurative, P < 0.01). Our study indicates that prognosis of patients with radiologically node-positive gastric carcinoma is poor because of high frequency of extensive tumor spreads. Patients having only positive level I nodes on CT are candidates for curative gastrectomy, which may offer long-term survival.     

Gastric cancer with multiple intramural metastases and metastasis to the small intestine which eventually developed Trousseau’s syndrome: report of a case

Here we report a rare case of Trousseau’s syndrome in a patient with gastric cancer with multiple intramural metastases and metastasis to the small intestine. A 70 year-old male complaining of appetite loss and weight loss of 7 kg within 3 months was admitted to hospital. Esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy revealed an advanced gastric cancer at the pylorus almost occluding the outlet of the stomach, and multiple ulcerative lesions throughout the stomach. A biopsy showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent total gastrectomy. During surgery, part of the distal ileum was found to be abnormally firm and approximately 1 m of the ileum with the cecum colon was resected. Pathologic examination confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma at the pylorus and multiple intramural metastases in most other areas of the stomach. Lymph node metastases were confirmed in 12 out of 40 harvested regional lymph nodes including one positive paraaortic lymph node. The resected ileum contained multiple tumors with ulceration. Massive lymphatic invasion in the stomach and the small intestine was observed, which strongly suggested lymphatic spread of the gastric cancer. The patient was discharged on post-operative day 21; however, 2 months after surgery, he developed multiple cerebral thromboembolisms and died 2 weeks later.