Incidental gastrointestinal subepithelial mass is increasing with national cancer screening endoscopy. Most of gastrointestinal subepithelial mass are small-sized and asymptomatic tumor with benign nature, but gastrointestinal stromal tumor should be ruled-out because of its malignant behavior. Although conventional endoscopy alone can differentiate the nature of subepithelial mass, more accurate diagnosis can be achieved with endoscopic ultrasonography and its guided biopsy. In this review, differential diagnosis and treatment strategy of incidental gastrointestinal subepithelial mass would be presented.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Stomach Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Glomus tumor is a tumor arising from glomus body, a nodular form of arteriolovenular anastomosis that functions to regulate blood flow according to temperature. Gastrointestinal glomus tumors are rare and most frequently occur in the stomach as a subepithelial tumor. A 46-year-old woman presented with an incidental finding of a subepithelial tumor in the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed a 1.4x1 cm sized well circumscribed heterogeneous hypoechoic tumor with a few tubular structures in the fourth sonographic layer of the gastric wall. Characteristically, more hypoechoic halo equal to the echogenecity of proper muscle layer enclosed the tumor. Contrast enhanced abdominal computerized tomography (CT) revealed high enhancement of tumor up to the same level of portal vein in arterial phase and this enhancement persisted to portal phase. For histolgogic confirmation and treatment, endoscopic enucleation was attempted but failed due to fibrotic adhesion with the surrounding tissue. Histologic findings of biopsy specimen were compatible with glomus tumor. Although it is difficult to diagnose glomus tumor preoperatively, these characteristic findings in EUS and CT seem to be useful in distinguishing glomus tumor from other tumors arising from the fourth sonographic layer of gastric wall.
Female ; Glomus Tumor/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A gastric carcinoma with the endoscopic features resembling a submucosal tumor (SMT) is rare, and reportedly accounting for 0.1% to 0.63% of all resected gastric carcinomas in Japan. A diagnosis of a SMT-like gastric carcinoma is often difficult as the tumors are almost entirely covered with normal mucosa. Furthermore mucinous gastric adenocarcinoma is uncommon histologic subtype of gastric cancer. These tumors are detected mostly in an advanced stage and rarely in an early stage. Early mucinous gastric adenocarcinoma is characterized as an elevated lesion resembling SMT due to abundant mucin pools in the submucosa. Here we report one case of SMT-like mucinous gastric adenocarcinoma, diagnosed by the usual endoscopic biopsy and treated with surgery.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

An inverted hyperplastic polyp (IHP) found in stomach is rare and characterized by downward growth of hyperplastic mucosal component into the submucosa. Because of such characteristic, IHP can be misdiagnosed as subepithelial tumor or malignant tumor. In fact, adenocarcinoma was reported to have coexisted with gastric IHP in several previous reports. Because only 18 cases on gastric IHP have been reported in English and Korean literature until now, pathogenesis and clinical features of gastric IHP and correlation with adenocarcinoma have not been clearly established. Herein, we report a case of gastric IHP which was initially misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumor and resected using endoscopic submucosal dissection. Literature review of previously published case reports on gastric IHP is also presented.
Adult ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology/surgery ; Humans ; Hyperplasia/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Polyps/pathology/surgery ; Stomach/diagnostic imaging ; Stomach Neoplasms/diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Mucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC) is an unusual histologic subtype, and early detection of MGC is very rare. Early-stage MGC appears as an elevated lesion resembling a submucosal tumor (SMT) due to abundant mucin pools in the submucosa or mucosa. We report a rare case of SMT-like early-stage MGC. Tumor type was predicted preoperatively based on characteristic endoscopic findings, in which an SMT-like mass was observed at the gastric fundus. The tumor was covered by nearly normal mucosa, but with an opening allowing for the passage of copious mucus discharge. A total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy was subsequently performed. Histopathology of the tumor revealed early-stage (lamina propria) mucinous adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Adult ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane/pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Subepithelial tumors are occasionally found during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate endoscopic characteristics of mesenchymal tumors originating from muscularis mucosa or muscularis propria. METHODS: A total of 307 mesenchymal tumors of the upper gastrointestinal tract were diagnosed between March 2006 and February 2012 at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital (Seoul, Korea). Data on endoscopic and endoscopic ultrasonographic findings were collected and analyzed by retrospectively reviewing the medical records. RESULTS: The mean size of the mesenchymal tumors originating from muscularis mucosa was significantly smaller than those originating from muscularis propria (10.5+/-6.9 mm vs. 14.3+/-13.9 mm, p=0.035). The most common locations of the mesenchymal tumors originating from muscularis mucosa and muscularis propria were esophagus (69.1%) and body of the stomach (43.3%), respectively (p<0.001). Rolling sign was more commonly observed with mesenchymal tumors originating from muscularis mucosa (80.4%, p=0.001), and cushion sign was more frequently absent with those originating from muscularis propria (72.4%, p<0.001). Internal echo was homogenous in 89.7% and 81.9% of mesenchymal tumors originating from muscularis mucosa and muscularis propria, respectively (p=0.092). CONCLUSIONS: The size, location, and movability of mesenchymal tumors originating from muscularis mucosa were different from those of mesenchymal tumor originating from muscularis propria.propria.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Esophagus/pathology/ultrasonography ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach/pathology/ultrasonography

We report herein a case of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach with liver metastasis. Gastric carcinoma generally presents as adenocarcinoma and rarely shows a hepatoid pattern, which can produce alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The stomach is one of the common sites at which hepatoid adenocarcinoma has been detected. A 75-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with a symptom of epigastric discomfort. Gastrofibroscopy revealed a large tumor occupying the greater curvature of the stomach body. The level of serum AFP was markedly increased. Abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple liver masses. Biopsy samples of the gastric lesion and liver masses finally confirmed her case as hepatoid adenocarcinoma in the stomach with liver metastasis. The AFP-producing gastric carcinoma needs special attention because it often presents with early liver metastasis and has a poor prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Aged ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/secondary/ultrasonography ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; alpha-Fetoproteins/metabolism

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that originates from a histiocytic hematopoietic lineage characterized by histiocytic differentiation and its corresponding immunophenotypic features. Patients with histiocytic sarcoma usually have a poor prognosis due to its aggressive clinical behavior. Here we report a rare case of extranodal histiocytic sarcoma of the stomach which was confirmed through immunohistochemical staining. A 71-yearold man was presented with epigastric pain. Gastroscopy, abdominal CT, and EUS revealed a mass located on the posterior wall of upper body and fundus of the stomach. Grossly, grayish white solid masses were seen extending down to the submucosal layer. Microscopically, the tumor cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm, abundant vacuole, and mitosis. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells were positive for LCA, CD68, and lysozyme. Early detection and accurate diagnosis of this rare neoplasm is important because it can make a great difference in prognostic outcomes. To make an accurate and definitive diagnosis, immunohistochemical staining is essential in the confimation of histiocytic orign.
Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Aged ; Antigens, CD/metabolism ; Antigens, CD45/metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastroscopy ; Histiocytic Sarcoma/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Male ; Muramidase/metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Medullary/*diagnosis/surgery/ultrasonography ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/diagnosis ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology/surgery ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins/metabolism ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery/ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastritis, Hypertrophic/complications/*diagnosis/ultrasonography ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed