A Case of Gastric Cancer with Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma Components, and Intramural Metastases.
BACKGROUND
Many neuroendocrine carcinomas exhibit medullary infiltration and expanded proliferation. Differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma is frequently seen in the superficial region in many neuroendocrine carcinoma cases. However, the present case showed non-medullary infiltration and signet ring cell carcinoma in the superficial region, with intramural metastases distributed throughout the whole of the stomach.


METHODS
A 67-year-old man was referred to our institution for treatment of gastric cancer. Type IIc-like advanced gastric cancer was detected in the greater curvature of the middle body of the stomach. The patient underwent total gastrectomy, splenectomy with D2 lymph node dissection, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction with curative resection. The tumor was diagnosed as a large-cell endocrine carcinoma of the stomach. A solid growth of signet ring cells was seen in the mucosa and submucosa. Intramural metastases were observed in many other depressed lesions. Large-cell carcinoma invaded the submucosa, mainly in the intramural metastatic site. Metastasis to one lesser curvature lymph node was also seen on histological examination. The final diagnosis was a gastric cancer of type 0-IIc (T4a) [M] (with intramural metastases) at T4aN1H0P0M0 Stage IIIA. This patient has remained alive without recurrence for 72 months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend close preoperative examination of neuroendocrine carcinoma, taking intramural metastases into consideration.
Department of Surgery, Kurume University, School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Keishiro
K
Aoyagi
Department of Surgery, Kurume University, School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Junya
J
Kizaki
Department of Surgery, Kurume University, School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Taro
T
Isobe
Department of Surgery, Kurume University, School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
Yoshito
Y
Akagi
D000368:Aged; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*