title: [AFP-producing adenocarcinoma of the stomach. A rare tumor with poor prognosis].
abstract: A 27-year-old, previously healthy man with abdominal discomfort was diagnosed with a small gastric tumor of the cardia by means of gastroscopy. Further staging revealed diffuse hepatic metastases and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was grossly increased (7179 micro g/l). Biopsies taken from the gastric tumor and one of the hepatic metastases revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (grade 3) with papillary and small solid areas and frequent clear cells. Cytoplasmic hyaline droplets were positive with PAS staining (diastase-resistant). Immunohistochemistry revealed focal tumor cells strongly positive for AFP and there was luminal expression of CEA. The diagnosis of an AFP-producing adenocarcinoma of the stomach was made. In spite of intensive combination chemotherapy the patient succumbed to his disease 3 months after diagnosis. The rare AFP-producing adenocarcinoma of the stomach is characterised by a distinct morphology and immunohistochemistry. A hepatoid differentiation may occur but is not obligatory as this case shows. In differential diagnosis, a metastasising germ cell tumor should be excluded. The prognosis for an AFP-positive adenocarcinoma is poor.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Abteilung Hämatologie/Onkologie, Universitätsklinik Mainz, Germany. pd.dr.u.kaiser@bernward-khs.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zugmaier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins