Resection of liver metastasis from alpha-fetoprotein-producing early gastric cancer: report of a case.
We herein present a case of resected synchronous solitary liver metastasis from alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing early gastric cancer. A 61-year-old woman, who was diagnosed at a routine medical checkup as having early gastric cancer with a liver tumor, came to our hospital for surgery. Her serum AFP level was high at 910 ng/ml. An examination was performed to determine whether the liver tumor was primary hepatocellular carcinoma or metastasis from early gastric cancer. She had no evidence of either a hepatitis B or C virus infection, and her liver function was normal. A biopsy specimen from the gastric cancer predominantly revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, but a focally trabecular pattern compatible with AFP-producing gastric cancer was also observed. Preoperatively, it was concluded that the liver tumor was metastasis from an AFP-producing early gastric cancer. We thus performed distal gastrectomy and a posterior segmentectomy of the liver. Her serum AFP level decreased to the normal range within 2 weeks after the operation. An immunohistological examination revealed that AFP-positive cells were present in both the gastric cancer and liver tumor. One year after the operation, there was no sign of recurrence.
Tsurumachi
T
T
Department of Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, Japan.
Yamamoto
H
H
Watanabe
K
K
Honda
I
I
Watanabe
S
S
Yamada
S
S
Jingu
K
K
Satomi
D
D
Fujita
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins