A hepatoid adenocarcinoma of stomach, a subtype of gastric cancr, is characterized by a histologic resemblance to a hepatocellular carcinoma and alpha-feto protein production. Another feature is early metastasis to the liver and lymph nodes, thus revealing a poor prognosis. We report a case of a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach with liver metastasis. A 52-year-old male visited our hospital with a chief complaint of indigestion. Gastroscopic examination showed a Borrmann type-II lesion on the lesser curvature of the antrum. The CT scan showed a suspected advanced gastric cancer with liver metastasis. The serum AFP level was 123 ng/ml. A radical subtotal gastrectomy and a right hemihepatectomy were performed simultaneously. Pathologic examination confirmed the lesion to be confined to the submucosa. The gastric lesion was a hepatoid adenocarcinoma, and the hepatic lesion was a metastatic adenocarcinoma from the stomach. Therefore, he was classified as having stage IV (T1N1M1) gastric cancer. In cases of a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach, even patients with early gastric cancer can be staged into the poor prognostic group.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A hepatoid adenocarcinoma of stomach, a subtype of gastric cancr, is characterized by a histologic resemblance to a hepatocellular carcinoma and alpha-feto protein production. Another feature is early metastasis to the liver and lymph nodes, thus revealing a poor prognosis. We report a case of a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach with liver metastasis. A 52-year-old male visited our hospital with a chief complaint of indigestion. Gastroscopic examination showed a Borrmann type-II lesion on the lesser curvature of the antrum. The CT scan showed a suspected advanced gastric cancer with liver metastasis. The serum AFP level was 123 ng/ml. A radical subtotal gastrectomy and a right hemihepatectomy were performed simultaneously. Pathologic examination confirmed the lesion to be confined to the submucosa. The gastric lesion was a hepatoid adenocarcinoma, and the hepatic lesion was a metastatic adenocarcinoma from the stomach. Therefore, he was classified as having stage IV (T1N1M1) gastric cancer. In cases of a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach, even patients with early gastric cancer can be staged into the poor prognostic group.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Primary small-cell carcinomas of the stomach are rare and aggressive malignancies with poor survival rates. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult and a standard treatment is not yet established. We have recently experienced two cases of a primary small-cell carcinoma of the stomach. The first case was a 65-year-old man with epigastric soreness. Endoscopic biopsy showed an adenocarcinoma. He underwent a radical subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymph-node dissection. Pathology revealed a collision tumor of a small- cell carcinoma and an adenocarcinoma with submucosal invasion and with metastasis in 20 out of 48 lymph nodes (T1N3M0). The second case was a 64-year-old man with epigastric soreness. Endoscopic biopsy revealed a small-cell carcinoma. There was no evidence of a primary tumor in the lung. A radical subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymph-node dissection was performed. Pathology showed a pure small- cell carcinoma with proper muscle invasion and with metastasis in 1 out of 36 lymph nodes (T2aN1M0).
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Diagnosis ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Stomach* ; Survival Rate

Recently, we experienced two advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients younger than 17 years of age. The first case was a 15-year, 2-month-old male who had suffered from epigastric soreness for 5 weeks. His grandfather died of gastric cancer at 39 years of age. Under the diagnosis of AGC, he underwent a total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. There was no evidence of distant metastasis. Pathologic examination revealed a 4.5x4 cm, signet ring cell adenocarcinoma with subserosal invasion and with metastasis in 9 of 42 regional lymph nodes (T2bN2M0). The second case was a 17-year, 11-month-old male who had suffered from epigastric pain for 2 years without familial clustering. Under the diagnosis of AGC, he underwent a distal subtotal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. There was no evidence of distant metastasis. Pathologic examination revealed a 3x2 cm, signet ring cell adenocarcinoma with subserosal invasion and with metastasis in 9 of 45 regional lymph nodes (T2bN2M0). The two patients have been alive without recurrence for 27 months and 4 months, respectively. Even among teenagers, patients with abdominal complaints should be subjected to a thorough examination of the gastrointestinal tract.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adolescent ; Diagnosis ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment result of surgical resection after preoperative chemotherapy in inoperable gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 18 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastric resection after preoperative chemotherapy because they showed some clinical response to chemotherapy (15 with distant metastasis and 3 with locally advanced lesions). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 15.3+/-15.5 (1~56) months. RESULTS: In 15 patients with distant metastasis, 2 (13.3%) showed complete response (CR), 10 (66.7%) partial response (PR), 2 (13.3%) stable disease (SD), and 1 (6.7%) progressive disease (PD). The clinical response rate was 80.0%. Five subtotal gastrectomies, 4 total gastrectomies, and 6 extended total gastrectomies were performed. Two cases of CR were alive without recurrence for 4 and 26 months, respectively. Mean survival period in PR case was 37.7 months, but 2 cases of SD and 1 case of PD died after 11.7, 17.9, and 0.9 months, respectively. Postoperative survival was significantly associated with the response to chemotherapy (P<0.01). The mean survival period of the 10 patients with a complete resection was 44.1 months, which was significantly better than that of the 5 patients with an incomplete resection (9.8 months, P=0.03). Among 3 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer, 2 cases showed PR to chemotherapy, and complete resection was possible only by gastrectomy for those patients. CONCLUSION: In some selected cases, surgical resection was achievable after preoperative chemotherapy for patients with inoperable metastatic or locally advanced gastric cancer.
Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite of increasing numbers of reports on intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT), there is still difficulty in its' diagnosis, treatment and prediction of prognosis. The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the clinico-pathological features of IPMT in Korea and suggest the prediction criteria of malignancy in IPMT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinico-pathological data of 208 patients who underwent operations with IPMT between 1993 and 2002 at 28 institutes in Korea. RESULTS: Of the 208 patients with a mean age of 60.5+/-9.7 years, 147 were men and 61 were women. 124 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, 42 distal pancreatectomy, 17 total pancreatectomy, 25 limited pancreas resection. Benign cases were 128 (adenoma (n=62), borderline (n=66)) and malignant cases were 80 (non-invasive (n=29), invasive (n=51)). A significant difference in 5-year survival was observed between benign and malignant group (92.6% vs. 65.3%; p=0.006). Of the 6 factors (age, location, duct dilatation, tumor appearance, main duct type, and tumor size) that showed the statistical difference in univariate analysis between benign and malignant group, we found three significant factors (tumor appearance (p=0.009), tumor size (p=0.023), and dilated duct size (p=0.010)) by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Although overall prognosis of IPMT is superior to ordinary pancreatic cancer, more curative surgery is recommended in malignant IPMT. Tumor appearance (papillary), tumor size (> or =30 mm) and dilated duct size (> or = 12 mm) can be used as preoperative indicators of malig-nancy in IPMT.
Academies and Institutes ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Mucins* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Synthetic absorbable monofilaments offer excellent glide characteristics and cause minimal tissue trauma as a result of their smooth monofilament structure and gradual absorption within the healing tissues. For these reasons, these suture materials are commonly used in various surgical fields such as gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, and plastic surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and usefulness of a new synthetic absorbable monofilament, Glycoside-epsilon-caprolactone-trimethylene carbonate interpolymer (GCT), in gastrointestinal anastomosis and closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 55 gastrointestinal anastomoses and closures using GCT (MONOSYNR, B. Braun, Germany) in 47 patients who underwent gastric surgery between December 2001 and May 2002 at Seoul National University Hospital. Patient's characteristics, operative procedure, surgeon's opinion of handling properties of GCT, and suture-related complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 34 males and 13 females (M:F= 2.6:1) with an average age of 54.2 years old. Forty-five cases of gastrointestinal anastomosis (20 gastrojejunostomies and 25 jejunojejunostomies) and 10 cases of intestinal closure (7 gastrostomy closures and 3 duodenal stump closures) were performed in 41 cases of stomach cancer, three of peptic ulcer disease, two of GIST, and one MALToma. The handling properties of GCT according to the criteria of knot breaking load, knot security, and placing property were always scored with 7 to 9 points (10=excellent, 1=very poor). Two cases of postoperative complications (3.6%) were noted. One was a leak of the gastrojejunostomy site which was successfully managed conservatively, and the other was a stricture of the gastrojejunostomy site which was managed by reoperation (side-to-side jejunojejunostomy). CONCLUSION: GCT seems to be an applicable suture material for various gastrointestinal anastomoses and closures.
Absorption ; Carbon* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastroenterology ; Gastrostomy ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer ; Postoperative Complications ; Reoperation ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surgery, Plastic ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Sutures ; Urology

PURPOSE: Malnutrition is a common postoperative complication that occurs after gastric resection. Several causes for malnutrition have been proposed, which include malabsorption and poor oral calorie intake. We performed this study to evaluate whether nutritional counseling would increase oral calorie intake and improve nutritional status in patients who had undergone gastrectomy. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients were randomly selected as the study group from among patients who had undergone gastrectomy for early gastric cancer and gastric polyp between October 1999 and December 2000. Body weight, hemoglobin, serum albumin, and serum transferrin were checked before and after the gastrectomy. Oral calorie intake was evaluated by using a 3-day oral-intake diary, and one nutritionist performed outpatient-based nutritional counseling. Eighteen patients who had undergone gastrectomy for the same disease during the same period were selected as the control group. RESULTS: During an average interval of 14.8 months, the study patients received nutritional counseling an average of 3.4 times at an average interval of 4.4 months. The study group took a mean of 2055.6+/-418.1 Cal per day and the control group 1792.1+/-421.9 Cal (P=0.05). Sixty-eight percent (15 patients) of the study group patients reached the daily-required calorie intake. Postoperative bodyweights were 64.0+/-9.9 kg for the study group and 64.3+/-10.8 kg for the control group (P>0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed among the other. Sixty-five percent of the patients (26 patients) had a weight loss of less than 10% of the preoperative body weight, and 35% had more than a 10% weight loss, but there was no statistical difference between the calorie intakes of these patients. CONCLUSION: Nutritional counselling increased the oral calorie intake, but nutritional status was not improved. These results suggest that nutritional derangement after gastrectomy cannot be corrected by adequate oral intake itself.
Body Weight ; Counseling ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Nutritional Status* ; Nutritionists ; Polyps ; Postoperative Complications ; Serum Albumin ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transferrin ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: For curative resection of recurrent gastric cancer, it is imperative that there be no unrecognized foci of tumoral disease outside the operation field. PET (positron emission tomography) with FDG (18 fluoro-2 deoxy-D-glucose) is a whole-body imaging technique that exploits the increased rate of glycolysis in tumor cells to detect disease. The authors evaluated the usefulness of FDG-PET in assessing resectability of recurrent gastric cancer. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with recurrent gastric cancer were studied with FDG-PET from December 1998 to October 2000. All FDG-PET images were interpreted in conjunction with conventional diagnostic methods. All imaging results were correlated with the pathological diagnosis and clinical outcome. Results: A final diagnosis of recurrence was obtained at 14 sites in all 7 patients by histology or clinical follow up. Locoregional recurrence, including distant metastasis, developed in 6 of 7 patients and distant recurrence in only one. FDG-PET detected all recurrent sites (5 locoregional and 5 distant) in 5 patients without peritoneal recurrence, but did not detect peritoneal seeding in 2 patients with peritoneal recurrence. The accuracy of FDG-PET in estimating resectability was 71.4% (5/7), and that of CT and PET together was 85.7% (6/7). A curative resection could be performed in three of the recurrent patients (2 locoregional and 1 distant recurrence). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that FDG-PET may be useful for detecting locoregional and distant recurrence of gastric cancer and for selecting appropriate treatment. However, considering that FDG-PET was limited in detecting peritoneal seeding and determining the exact anatomical extension of tumor, it should be used in conjunction with other anatomical images.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The prognostic significance of lymph node (LN) micrometastasis in gastric cancer remains contro versial. We therefore investigated the clinicopathologic factors related to LN micrometastasis and evaluated the clinical relevance of micrometastasis with regard to urrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1083 LNs from 39 patients with pT2N0 gastric cancer and who underwent curative resection in 1993 were further immunohistochemically stained using an anti-cytokeratin Ab cocktail (AE1-AE3). RESULTS: Micrometastases were found in 3.9% (42/1083) of the resected LNs and 53.8% (21/39) of the patients with pT2N0 gastric cancer. LN micrometastasis was found to be significantly related with histologic differentiation. The recurrence rate of gastric cancer was higher in patients with LN micrometastasis (31.6%) than in those without (6.3%), with a borderline significance (p=0.074). In uni variate analysis, patients with LN micrometastasis had a shorter 5-year disease-free survival (65%) than those without LN micrometastasis (87%) (p=0.075). In multivariate analysis, multiple LN micrometastasis was associated with a poor prognosis, but with a borderline significance (p=0.069, Risk ratio 4.815) CONCLUSION: We were able to identify LN micrometastases missed on routine H-E staining, using an immuno histochemical technique. Our results suggest that LN micrometastasis is associated with the recurrence of pT2N0 gastric cancer.
Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms*