Carcinoid tumors originate from the enterochromaffin cells that are located in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Most of these tumors are asymptomatic and gastric carcinoid with massive gastrointestinal bleeding is found rarely. We experienced a case of gastric carcinoid admitted to our hospital due to melena and dizziness. The esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination revealed an ulcerofungating mass in the lower body which was thought to be a Borrmann type III adenocarcinoma. Microscopic examination of the biopsy specimens showed benign gastric ulcer without malignant cells. Repeated endoscopic biopsy revealed the same results. A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed a gastric mass with multiple perigastric enlarged lymph nodes. Histopathological examination of the operative specimen showed gastric carcinoid. We report a case of gastric carcinoid with massive bleeding mimicking advanced gastric cancer.
Abdomen ; Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Dizziness ; Enterochromaffin Cells ; Hemorrhage* ; Lymph Nodes ; Melena ; Mucous Membrane ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach Ulcer

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Catalase is one of the main defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. To examine the possible relationship between oxidative stress, and gastric and hepatocellular carcinomas, HinfI restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) in the human catalase gene was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The genotype and allele frequencies in the promoter region of the catalase gene were studied by PCR-RFLP in 108 Korean controls, 80 Korean gastric carcinoma (GC) and 106 Korean hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in the genotypic distribution and allelic frequencies between the controls and both types of carcinoma patient. CONCLUSION: To address the possible contribution of oxidative stresses to the pathogenesis of gastric and hepatocellular carcinomas, the associations between the catalase gene polymorphism and GC and HCC susceptibilities were studied. As a result, the catalase gene polymorphism was found not to be determinant of GC and HCC susceptibilities. Further studies are required on various other oxidative stress related genes to elucidate the mechanisms of GC and HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catalase* ; Defense Mechanisms ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Promoter Regions, Genetic