Endoscopy 2009; 41: E220-E221
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1214937
Unusual cases and technical notes

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A case of gastric carcinosarcoma

R.  Kikuyama1 , K.  Tanaka2 , S.  Tano1 , T.  Iguchi1 , K.  Nishikawa1 , T.  Harada1 , K.  Uchida3 , S.  Nagaya4 , N.  Noda5 , M.  Noda6 , Y.  Takei1
  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Mie University Hospital, Tsu, Japan
  • 2Department of Endoscopic Medicine, Mie University Hospital, Tsu, Japan
  • 3Department of Pathology, Mie University Hospital, Tsu, Japan
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine, Ise Municipal General Hospital, Ise, Japan
  • 5Department of Surgery, Ise Municipal General Hospital, Ise, Japan
  • 6Department of Pathology, Ise Municipal General Hospital, Ise, Japan
Further Information

K. TanakaMD 

Department of Endoscopic Medicine
Mie University Hospital

2-174 Edobashi
Tsu Mie 514-8507
Japan

Fax: +81-59-2315200

Email: kyosuket@qa2.so-net.ne.jp

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 September 2009 (online)

Table of Contents

Carcinosarcoma is a malignant tumor consisting of both epithelial and mesenchymal elements that rarely occurs in the stomach [1]. We present a case of gastric carcinosarcoma presenting as anemia and with interesting endoscopic features.

An 83-year-old woman with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) because of anemia (hemoglobin 6.3 g/dL) that had been diagnosed 2 weeks previously. EGD revealed an ulcerative lesion in the gastric antrum ([Fig. 1]). An exophytic mass was protruding from the ulcer base and was covered with whitish exudates and clotted blood ([Fig. 2]). A biopsy specimen was obtained from the ulcerative lesion, and a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was made. The ulcerative lesion was suspected to be the source of bleeding and the cause of the patient’s anemia. No other source of bleeding was evident. The patient subsequently underwent gastrectomy and extirpation of the affected lymph nodes ([Fig. 3]). Histopathologically, the tumor was seen to involve all the layers of the gastric wall and to consist of both epithelial and spindle cells ([Fig. 4]). The epithelial cells had a solid growth pattern with foci of tubular growth ([Fig. 5]). Proliferation of spindle cells with marked cytological atypia was seen across most of the tumor ([Fig. 6]). Histochemistry was positive for cytokeratin in the epithelial component. The spindle cells stained intensively for vimentin, although neither muscular nor neural differentiation was evident. The tumor was finally diagnosed as a gastric carcinosarcoma.

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Fig. 1 Endoscopy showing an ulcerative lesion in the gastric antrum.

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Fig. 2 Endoscopy showing an exophytic mass protruding from the base of the gastric ulcer.

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Fig. 3 The resected specimen with the protruding mass devoid of mucosa.

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Fig. 4 Histopathological section showing the tumor involving all the layers of the gastric wall.

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Fig. 5 Epithelial cells displaying a solid growth pattern, with foci of cells showing tubular growth (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification × 200).

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Fig. 6 A large part of the tumor was seen to consist of proliferating spindle cells with marked cytological atypia (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification × 400).

Carcinosarcomas in the stomach may be polypoid, exophytic, or endophytic, with generally ulcerated surfaces; they frequently infiltrate the gastric wall in the antral or pyloric region and form large tumor masses [2] [3] [4] [5]. Gastric carcinosarcoma should be taken into consideration when a giant gastric tumor shows endoscopic features that are atypical of gastric cancer.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AB_2AD_3AB

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References

  • 1 Tanimura H, Furuta M. Carcinosarcoma of the stomach.  Am J Surg. 1967;  113 702-709
  • 2 Yamazaki K. A gastric carcinosarcoma with neuroendocrine cell differentiation and undifferentiated spindle-shaped sarcoma component possibly progressing from the conventional tubular adenocarcinoma; an immunohisto-chemical and ultrastructural study.  Virchows Arch. 2003;  442 77-81
  • 3 Kayaselcuk F, Tuncer I, Toyganozu Y. et al . Carcinosarcoma of the stomach.  Pathol Oncol Res. 2002;  8 275-277
  • 4 Maiorana A, Fante R, Maria C esinaro. et al . Synchronous occurrence of epithelial and stromal tumors in the stomach: a report of 6 cases.  Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000;  124 682-686
  • 5 Ikeda Y, Kosugi S, Nishikura K. et al . Gastric carcinosarcoma presenting as a huge epigastric mass.  Gastric Cancer. 2007;  10 63-68

K. TanakaMD 

Department of Endoscopic Medicine
Mie University Hospital

2-174 Edobashi
Tsu Mie 514-8507
Japan

Fax: +81-59-2315200

Email: kyosuket@qa2.so-net.ne.jp

#

References

  • 1 Tanimura H, Furuta M. Carcinosarcoma of the stomach.  Am J Surg. 1967;  113 702-709
  • 2 Yamazaki K. A gastric carcinosarcoma with neuroendocrine cell differentiation and undifferentiated spindle-shaped sarcoma component possibly progressing from the conventional tubular adenocarcinoma; an immunohisto-chemical and ultrastructural study.  Virchows Arch. 2003;  442 77-81
  • 3 Kayaselcuk F, Tuncer I, Toyganozu Y. et al . Carcinosarcoma of the stomach.  Pathol Oncol Res. 2002;  8 275-277
  • 4 Maiorana A, Fante R, Maria C esinaro. et al . Synchronous occurrence of epithelial and stromal tumors in the stomach: a report of 6 cases.  Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000;  124 682-686
  • 5 Ikeda Y, Kosugi S, Nishikura K. et al . Gastric carcinosarcoma presenting as a huge epigastric mass.  Gastric Cancer. 2007;  10 63-68

K. TanakaMD 

Department of Endoscopic Medicine
Mie University Hospital

2-174 Edobashi
Tsu Mie 514-8507
Japan

Fax: +81-59-2315200

Email: kyosuket@qa2.so-net.ne.jp

Zoom Image

Fig. 1 Endoscopy showing an ulcerative lesion in the gastric antrum.

Zoom Image

Fig. 2 Endoscopy showing an exophytic mass protruding from the base of the gastric ulcer.

Zoom Image

Fig. 3 The resected specimen with the protruding mass devoid of mucosa.

Zoom Image

Fig. 4 Histopathological section showing the tumor involving all the layers of the gastric wall.

Zoom Image

Fig. 5 Epithelial cells displaying a solid growth pattern, with foci of cells showing tubular growth (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification × 200).

Zoom Image

Fig. 6 A large part of the tumor was seen to consist of proliferating spindle cells with marked cytological atypia (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification × 400).