title: Vertebral carcinomatosis eleven years after advanced gastric cancer resection: A case report.
abstract: Bone metastasis is an uncommon event in advanced gastric cancer patients and bone metastases are rarely detected as isolated lesions. However, eleven years after treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer, including total gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, a 49-year-old female was admitted to the IX Division of General Surgery of the Second University of Naples (Naples, Italy) exhibiting severe progressive neurological symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated vertebral abnormalities, with evidence of marrow infiltration in several vertebral bodies; however, a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan did not detect disease progression to other sites. Biopsy of the soft tissue at the level of the second lumbar vertebra (L2) revealed a metastatic lesion derived from gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient was initially treated with radiotherapy directed to the L2-L4 vertebral bodies to control the pain. Subsequently, systemic chemotherapy according to a FOLFOX-4 (leucovorin, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin) regimen commenced. However, after eight cycles, pulmonary progression of the disease occurred. Thus, palliative care was administered and the patient succumbed one month later. The late relapse of gastric cancer in the current patient may be associated with the theory of tumour dormancy.
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Iovino
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Orditura
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Pasquale Pio
authors: PP
authors: Auriemma
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Francesca Romana
authors: FR
authors: Ciorra
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Giordano
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Consiglia
authors: C
authors: Orabona
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Bara
authors: IX Division of General Surgery, Department of Anaesthetic, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Renato
authors: R
authors: Sergio
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Beatrice
authors: B
authors: Savastano
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Fabozzi
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Maria Maddalena
authors: MM
authors: Laterza
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Jole
authors: J
authors: Ventriglia
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Angelica
authors: A
authors: Petrillo
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Carminia Maria
authors: CM
authors: Della Corte
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, 'F. Magrassi - A. Lanzara' Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, Naples I-80131, Italy.
authors: Ferdinando
authors: F
authors: DE Vita
keywords: gastric cancer; tumour dormancy; vertebral metastases