Early diagnosis of Borrmann type 4 advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is very important for improving the prognosis of AGC patients. Because there is no definite mass in most cases of Borrmann type 4 AGC, its accurate diagnosis via endoscopy requires an understanding of its pathogenesis and developmental process. Moreover, many people confuse linitis plastica (LP) type gastric cancer (GC), scirrhous GC, and Borrmann type 4 AGC. To distinguish each of these cancers, knowledge of their endoscopic and pathological differences is necessary, especially for LP type GCs in the developmental stage. In conclusion, diagnosis of pre-stage or latent LP type GC before progression to typical LP type GC requires the detection of IIc-like lesions in the fundic gland area. It is also crucial to identify any abnormalities such as sclerosis of the gastric wall and hypertrophy of the mucosal folds during endoscopy.
Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Linitis Plastica ; Prognosis ; Sclerosis ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Linitis plastica of the colon is an uncommon presentation of primary colorectal cancer. This entity of colorectal cancer is characterized by a diffuse infiltrating tumor with desmoplastic reaction and poor prognosis. Although widespread infiltration is the main feature of linitis plastica, the tumor extending to more than 2 segments of the colon is uncommon. We report a case of primary linitis plastica involving the entire colon, ileum and appendix. The clinical characteristics are discussed with a review of literatures.
Adult ; Appendiceal Neoplasms/*pathology ; Colonic Neoplasms/*pathology ; Humans ; Ileal Neoplasms/*pathology ; Linitis Plastica/*pathology ; Male

Primary tumor of the appendix is a rare disease entity of gastrointestinal malignancy. Most of them are discovered unexpectedly in an acute situation. The diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the appendix is hardly made preoperatively. An unsuspected finding of appendiceal tumor during operation can cause confusion about appropriate management of the lesion. The prognosis of adenocarcinoma of appendix can be determined by Dukes' stage and is similar, stage for stage, to that of colorectal carcinoma. We experienced a patient with linitis plastica type of primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix, who complained right lower quadrant pain for twenty days. The patient underwent appendectomy only. The second curative operation could not be performed due to patient's condition.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Appendectomy ; Appendix ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Linitis Plastica* ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

Mantle cell lymphoma has a broad spectrum of endoscopic presentations, such as thick, rigid folds that are indispensible on air insufflation, superficial confluent ulceration, or a polypoidal mass protruding into the lumen. The exact diagnosis is difficult to make because the lesion is in the submucosal layer and inaccessible by biopsy. Lesions will often exfoliate necrotic cells which make interpretation difficult, or they may be too small in number and size and thus indistinguishable from anaplastic carcinoma. We report a case of mantle cell lymphoma with diffuse wall thickening of the whole stomach in a 51-year-old man. The series of endoscopic findings in this case support the role of differential diagnosis of linitis plasica type of advanced gastric cancer with mantle cell lymphoma.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Linitis Plastica ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Ulcer

Formaldehyde is a colorless irritating gas of pungent odor, which is used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, deodorant, tissue fixative and embalming fluid, It is used in the formation of resins, alcohols and acids, and in permanent press processes in the textile industry. If formaldehyde is swallowed, severe abdominal pain and vomiting is immediately noted. Corrosive gastritis can follow with diffuse ulceration, fibrosis and contracture of the stomach, resembling linitis plastica, which may be severe enough to require gastrectomy. We report a case of cicatricial contracted stomach due to the ingestion of formalin.
Abdominal Pain ; Alcohols ; Contracture ; Deodorants ; Eating* ; Embalming ; Fibrosis ; Formaldehyde* ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis ; Linitis Plastica ; Odors ; Stomach* ; Textile Industry ; Ulcer ; Vomiting

Gastric syphilis has been reported to be relatively rare due to the difficulty in making a histological diagnosis. However if a serologic test for syphilis is positive and the ulcer regresses after anti-syphilitic treatment, it can be assumed that the gastritis was caused by Treponema Pallidum. The clinical diagnosis of gastric syphilis ranges from a benign ulcer to mimicking an infiltrative carcinoma or lymphoma. We encountered a 21-year-old woman who was referred for linitis plastica with epigastric pain and weight loss. The gastroduodenoscopy revealed multiple irregular gastric mucopurulent shallow ulceration and several nodular lesions mimicking linitis plastica. The appropriate antibiotic treatment resulted in a dramatic improvement and a complete reversal of gastric lesions. This recent case of gastric syphilis emphasizes the importance of remaining alert to the manifestations of syphilis.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Linitis Plastica ; Lymphoma ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Syphilis* ; Treponema pallidum ; Ulcer ; Weight Loss ; Young Adult

Amyloidosis is a group of disorders characterized by the extracellular accumulation of insoluble, fibrillar proteins in various organs and tissues. It is classified, on the basis of the identity of the precursor protein, as primary, secondary, or familial amyloidosis. Gastrointestinal amyloidosis usually presents as bleeding, ulceration, malabsorption, protein loss, and diarrhea. However, gastric amyloidosis with gastric outlet obstruction mimicking linitis plastica is rare. We report a case of gastrointestinal amyloidosis with gastric outlet obstruction in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis. The patient was indicated for subtotal gastrectomy because of the aggravation of obstructive symptoms, but refused the operation and was transferred to another hospital. Three months later, the patient died of aspiration pneumonia during medical treatment.
Amyloidosis* ; Amyloidosis, Familial ; Diarrhea ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Linitis Plastica ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Ulcer

Primary linitis plastica of the colon, rectum and ileum is very uncommon, especially when it mimicks the colonic Crohn's disease. We observed this uncommon disease in a 26-year-old male. Barium enema showed characteristics of multiple consentric lesions in the entire colon, and some irregularity in mesenteric border of the terminal ileum. Colonofiberscopic finding showed multiple cobble stone appearance of the colon with a skipped area. The result of the biopsy illustrated that there was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma 5 cm from the anal verge. A longitudinal duodenal ulcer was discovered using the gastroscopic method. Upper gastrointestinal and small bowel series showed a suspicious gastric and duodenal Crohn's disease, and also showed ileum involvement. Operative finding showed a lead pipe appearance of the total colon, and the rectum was very fixed to the bladder and pelvic floor. The mesentery of the colon was thickened, and some portion of mesenteric creeping of the ileum was found to be mimicking Crohn's disease. The duodenal wall was also thickened. The biopsy result showed that there was a total involvement of the colon, rectum and ileum with signet-ring cell type adenocarcinoma with intact mucosa with the exception of a little portion of the rectum. This disease is very uncommon, and it is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, especially in Oriental countries.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Barium ; Biopsy ; Colon* ; Crohn Disease* ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Enema ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Linitis Plastica* ; Male ; Mesentery ; Mucous Membrane ; Pelvic Floor ; Rectum* ; Urinary Bladder

Gastric cancer is rare during pregnancy, and often advanced upon presentation. A Krukenberg tumor presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in the pregnant patient. We present a case of a 38-year-old woman at 22 weeks' gestation who presented with worsening epigastric pain, and was found to have a left pelvic mass on ultrasound, which was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. She went into active labor and delivered a viable infant via vaginal delivery. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a large mass originating from her left ovary and diffuse thickening of the lesser curvature of the stomach. Frozen section investigation revealed the presence of signet cell adenocarcinoma. Subsequent upper endoscopy showed linitis plastica, while biopsy confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, the occurrence of gastric cancer in pregnancy is rare despite extremely common symptoms. The management poses a challenge because of the need for early treatment, and the continuation of the pregnancy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Infant ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Laparotomy ; Linitis Plastica ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ovary ; Pregnancy* ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ultrasonography

The present research was conducted through the research fund of Dankook University in 2006. Rectal recurrence of gastric cancer is uncommon. A few cases have been reported, with the majority of them associated with peritoneal recurrence. A 71-year-old man visited our hospital complaining of bowel habit changes and fecal incontinence. He had undergone radical subtotal gastrectomy and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer 9 years earlier. Colonoscopy showed a rigidly constricted and erythematous rectum. Abdominopelvic CT showed diffuse rectal wall thickening with enhancement. PET-CT showed a hot uptake in the corresponding area on abdominopelvic CT scan, with no evidence of distant metastasis. We performed transanal full thickness biopsy and confirmed a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma pathologically similar to the former gastric cancer. The patient was diagnosed with solitary rectal recurrence simulating linitis plastica, without gastric remnant recurrence. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colonoscopy ; Fecal Incontinence ; Financial Management ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Stump ; Humans ; Linitis Plastica ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms