Escudo de Blumer: signo diagnóstico de la diseminación a distancia del cáncer gástrico difuso / Blumer ́s shelf: diagnostic sign of distant spread of diffuse gastric cancer

Introducción. Se conoce como escudo de Blumer al engrosamiento neoplásico del fondo de saco de Douglas, palpable al tacto rectal como una protrusión en forma de resalte, presente en pacientes afectados por carcinomas con infiltración difusa. A pesar de haber sido descrito hace más de un siglo, se trata de un proceso diagnosticado infrecuentemente y con escasa mención en la literatura científica. Es preciso tener un alto nivel de sospecha clínica para correlacionar los síntomas pélvicos con la presencia de un tumor, habitualmente gástrico. Casos clínicos. Presentamos dos pacientes con hallazgo de escudo de Blumer, asociado a cáncer gástrico difuso, uno como diagnóstico primario de enfermedad metastásica y otro como recidiva de la enfermedad, meses después de ser operado. Ambos casos presentan un complejo proceso diagnóstico, en el que prima la sospecha clínica, apoyado sobre pruebas de imagen como tomografía computarizada y resonancia nuclear magnética, ya que tanto las biopsias obtenidas por endoscopia, como las biopsias intraoperatorias fueron negativas. Discusión. En el escudo de Blumer, las células tumorales infiltran el fondo de saco de Douglas de forma difusa por debajo de la serosa, sin necesidad de que existan implantes macroscópicamente visibles en el peritoneo visceral. La infiltración tumoral puede afectar extrínsecamente al recto, causando una estenosis del mismo, lo que produce sintomatología pélvica inespecífica, como tenesmo rectal y proctalgia. Por lo tanto, este ominoso proceso debe ser sospechado en pacientes con sintomatología pélvica, que presenten o hayan presentado cáncer gástrico

Introduction. The neoplastic thickening of the cul-de-sac of Douglas is known as "Blumer's shelf". It is palpable on rectal examination as a protrusion in the form of a projection, and it presents in patients affected by carcinomas with diffuse infiltration. Despite being described more than a century ago, it is a rare process with little mention in the scientific literature. A high level of clinical suspicion is required to correlate pelvic symptoms with the presence of a typically gastric tumor.Clinical cases. We present two patients with a Blumer's shelf finding associated with diffuse gastric cancer, one as a primary diagnosis of metastatic disease and the other as a recurrence of the disease, months after being operated on. Both cases present a complex diagnostic process, in which clinical suspicion prevails, supported by imaging tests such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, since both endoscopic biopsies and intraoperative biopsies were negative.Discussion. In Blumer's shelf, tumor cells infiltrate the cul-de-sac of Douglas in a diffuse and subserous manner, without the need for macroscopically visible implants in the visceral peritoneum. Tumor infiltration can extrinsically affect the rectum, causing its stenosis, which produces nonspecific pelvic symptoms such as rectal tenesmus and proctalgia. Therefore, this ominous process should be suspected in patients with pelvic symptoms, who present or have presented gastric cancer

Primary Gastric Small Cell Carcinoma (Presenting as Linitis Plastica) Diagnosed Using Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy: A Case Report

Small cell carcinomas are the most aggressive, highly malignant neuroendocrine tumors; among these, gastric small cell carcinoma (GSCC) is extremely rare. Here we report a case of a patient with primary GSCC, presenting as linitis plastic, who was diagnosed using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsy. With undiagnosed linitis plastica, an 80-year-old woman was referred to our institution. Abdominal computed tomography revealed irregular wall thickening extending from the gastric body to the antrum. Endoscopy suspected to have Borrmann type IV advanced gastric cancer. EUS of the stomach showed diffuse submucosal thickening of the gastric wall, mainly the antrum. EUS-guided bite-on-bite biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of GSCC. In general, GSCC is difficult to diagnose and careful examination is necessary to determine the therapeutic strategy; however, EUS is particularly helpful in the differential diagnosis of a lesion presenting as linitis plastica.

Synchronously Diagnosed Gastric Metastasis from Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma, Mimicking Primary Gastric Carcinoma

Gastric metastasis from invasive lobular breast carcinoma is rare. Mostly gastrointestinal metastasis presents as one among multiple metastases, several years after primary diagnosis of breast carcinoma. Herein, we report a synchronously diagnosed gastric metastasis from invasive lobular carcinoma, mimicking primary gastric linitis plastica with pyloric obstruction. We reviewed clinical and pathological findings of gastric carcinoma metastatic from the breast. In particular, we focused on immunohistochemical studies of selected antibodies, including those for estrogen receptors, gross cystic disease fluid protein-15, and caudal-type homeobox transcription factor 2, for accurate differential diagnosis. Clinical suspicion, repeat endoscopic biopsy, and detailed histological analysis including immunohistochemistry are necessary for diagnosis of gastric carcinoma metastatic from the breast.

How to manage gastric polyps

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the world. In United States, gastric polyps are found in approximately 6% of upper endoscopy. The incidence of gastric polyps increased with widespread use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and more liberal use of proton pump inhibitors. They are usually asymptomatic, but infrequently cause symptoms of bleeding, pain and gastric outlet obstruction. It is important to distinguish premalignant conditions and mimickers of malignancy. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy leads to regression of hyperplastic polyps but it is not clear for adenoma. Endoscopy plays key role not only in diagnosis but also in surveillance. With narrow band imaging and chromo endoscopy, we are much better today in detecting and discerning these. Also, with endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, we can manage these better. In this review article we will discuss the various diagnostic tools and therapeutic options for hyperplastic polyp, fundic gland polyp, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, adenoma, neuroendocrine tumor, linitis plastica, and intestinal metaplasia.

Borrmann Type 4 Advanced Gastric Cancer: Focus on the Development of Scirrhous Gastric Cancer

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.

Ductal Breast Carcinoma Metastatic to the Stomach Resembling Primary Linitis Plastica in a Male Patient / 한국유방암학회지

Breast cancer metastases to the gastrointestinal tract are very rare occurrences. Among the histological subtypes of breast cancer, invasive lobular carcinomas have a high capacity of metastasis to uncommon sites including the stomach. Conversely, there has not been sufficient evidence supporting the gastric metastasis of invasive ductal carcinoma. Herein, we report a unique case of metastatic ductal breast carcinoma mimicking primary linitis plastica in a male patient, particularly focusing on the clinical and pathological features of presentation. Moreover, we propose a immunohistochemical panel of selected antibodies including those for cytokeratin 20, cytokeratin 7, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, E-cadherin, gross cystic disease fluid protein 15, and GATA binding protein 3 for an accurate differential diagnosis.

Gastric Cancer Presenting as a Krukenberg Tumor at 22 Weeks' Gestation

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.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction Due to Gastric Amyloidosis Mimicking Malignancy in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis

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.

A Case of Mantle Cell Lymphoma Exhibiting Features of Gastric Linitis Plastica Type of Advanced Gastric Cancer

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.

A Case of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis Presenting with Fever and Multiple Lymphadenopathy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an unusual disease that is associated with various clinical gastrointestinal manifestations. Its severity depends on the area involved as well as the wall layer involved. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis often causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. To date, there has been an extremely rare case of eosinophilic gastroenteritis with systemic symptoms, such as fever or lymphadenopathy (LAP). We experienced a case of a 68-year-old-woman with fever and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed diffuse wall thickening of the gastric antrum as linitis plastica. Multiple hot uptakes of lymph nodes were visualized on fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. The gastric biopsy pathological report demonstrated eosinophilic infiltration without malignant cells. We could not exclude malignancy and performed an exploratory laparoscopy. A lymph node specimen showed reactive hyperplasia, and her illness was finally diagnosed as eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Herein, we report the case with a brief review.

Primary Linitis Plastica of the Colon with Mucinous Adenocarcinoma in Young Woman

Adenocarcinoma is the most common pathologic diagnosis, representing >95% of colorectal cancers; mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA) accounts for 10-15% and SRC accounts for 0.1-2.4% of colorectal cancers. MA is defined as a tumor with > or =50% mucin. Patients with MAs have a poor prognosis, a higher proportion of peritoneal metastases, and present at a more advanced stage of disease. Linitis plastica involving the colon and rectum is usually a metastatic lesion from gastric cancer and other organs, such as the prostate, gallbladder, and breast. Primary linitis plastica of the colon is very rare. We managed a case of colon cancer occurring in a 19-year-old female with a histologic diagnosis of mucinous adenocarcinoma and morphologic features of linitis plastica. Herein we report a rare case of primary linitis plastica of the colon with a review of the literature.

Primary Linitis Plastica of the Colon with Mucinous Adenocarcinoma in Young Woman

Adenocarcinoma is the most common pathologic diagnosis, representing >95% of colorectal cancers; mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA) accounts for 10-15% and SRC accounts for 0.1-2.4% of colorectal cancers. MA is defined as a tumor with > or =50% mucin. Patients with MAs have a poor prognosis, a higher proportion of peritoneal metastases, and present at a more advanced stage of disease. Linitis plastica involving the colon and rectum is usually a metastatic lesion from gastric cancer and other organs, such as the prostate, gallbladder, and breast. Primary linitis plastica of the colon is very rare. We managed a case of colon cancer occurring in a 19-year-old female with a histologic diagnosis of mucinous adenocarcinoma and morphologic features of linitis plastica. Herein we report a rare case of primary linitis plastica of the colon with a review of the literature.

Linitis plástica: presentación como gastropatía hipertrófica / Linitis plastica: presentation as hypertrophic gastropathy

Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 78 años, que presentaba importante pérdida de peso y su endoscopia digestiva alta demostró pliegues gástricos gigantes. Se realizaron biopsias con asa de polipectomía en busca del diagnóstico y posible enfermedad neoplásica. La histopatología documentó gastropatía hipertrófica. La ecoendoscopia gástrica demostró una pared muy gruesa y aunque se sospechó neoplasia no podía ser conclusiva, solamente después de realizada la gastrectomía total se diagnosticó linitis plástica. Presentamos la revisión de pliegues gástricos gigantes así como las causas y clasificación de la gastropatía hipertrófica.

We present 78 year old Colombian lady who had lost weight and had giant gastric folds in her upper endoscopy. Intensive work up was done including extra large biopsies done with polipectomy snares. The pathology diagnosed hypertrophic gastropathy. Endoscopic ultrasound of the stomach diagnosed a very thick gastric wall. Only after total gastrectomy was done, Linitis Plastica was diagnosed. We review giant gastric folds as well as causes and classification of the hypertrophic gastropathy.

Metastatic Gastric Linitis Plastica from Bladder Cancer Mimicking a Primary Gastric Carcinoma: a Case Report

Primary gastric carcinoma is the most common cause of linitis plastica. Less frequently, metastatic gastric cancer from the breast, omental metastases and non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving the stomach have been reported to show similar radiographic findings as for linitis plastica. A metastatic gastric cancer from bladder cancer is extremely rare. We present an unusual case, the first to our knowledge, of gastric linitis plastica that resulted from a metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

A case of solitary rectal recurrence of gastric cancer / 대한내과학회지

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.

A Case of Gastric Syphilis Mimicking Advanced Gastric Cancer / 대한소화기내시경학회지

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.

A Case of Eosinophilic Gastritis Mimicking Borrmann Type-4 Advanced Gastric Cancer

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare clinicopathologic entity of unknown etiology with a variety of digestive symptoms. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. Diagnostic criteria include demonstration of eosinophilic infiltration of the affected bowel wall, lack of evidence of extraintestinal disease, and exclusion of various disorders that could mimic similar conditions. The disease might involve any area of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum, but the stomach and the proximal small bowel are most commonly affected. The clinical features depend on which layer and site are involved. We report the case of a 59-year-old male patient with a 3-week history of post-prandial vomiting with malnutrition and weight loss. An abdominopelvic CT showed a gastric outlet obstruction with diffuse wall thickening, as with linitis plastica. Three gastrofiberscopic biopsies showed chronic gastritis. We carried out a radical total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The pathologic report revealed a mural type eosinophilic gastritis with a marked hypertrophic scar formation at the proper muscle layer. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.

Linitis Plastica in Colon, Rectum and Ileum Mimicking Crohn's Disease

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.

A Case of Linitis Plastica Involving the Entire Colon, Ileum, and Appendix / 대한소화기학회지

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.

A Case of Linitis Plastica Type of Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma

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.