Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach: Radiologic Findings

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach is a variant of gastric carcinoma with both adenocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinomatous differentiations. Until recently, few reports had been published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic characteristics of eleven hepatoid adenocarcinomas of the stomach aswell as patterns of metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven pathologically proven cases of hepatoidadeno carcinoma of the stomach were retrospectively reviewed. Radiologic studies available were CT in eight patients, abdominal ultrasonography in ten, upper GI series in seven, and hepatic angiography in two. Pathologicand radiologic characteristics of these lesions, patterns of metastasis, if present, and labolatory data(AFP andCEA) were evaluated. RESULTS: Tumors were seen in the antrum and body in five patients, in the antrum in five, and in the body of the stomach in one. Six tumors were classified as Borrmann type 3, four as Borrmann type 2, andone as Borrmann type 4. Nine cases showed hepatic metastasis. Portal vein thrombosis was present in three cases ;two were accompanied by multiple liver metastasis and the other had portal venous thrombosis. Lymph nodemetastasis was identified in 11 cases ; N1 in five, N2 in five, and extensive retroperitoneal paraaortic and left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy in one. Angiography showed hypervascular metastatic liver masses in two cases.There was no evidence of metastasis to the mesentery, omentum, and peritoneum. Serum AFP was elevated in tencases(mean 24752.2 ; median 4230 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: Radiologic findings of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of thestomach appear similar to those of non-hepatoid adenocarcinoma. However, elevation of AFP and early liver metastasis without peritoneal metastasis is suggestive of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach.