Unusual Presentation of Metastatic Diffuse Gastric Carcinoma - Report of An Interesting Case with Literature Review

Abstract

Diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma or and ldquo;linitis plastica and rdquo; is characterized by a thickened and rigid stomach wall due to the diffuse infiltration of signet ring cells into the lower parts of the mucosa and submucosa of the stomach. This type of cancer is known to commonly metastasize to the liver, lungs, and ovaries, and metastasis to the gallbladder is extremely rare. We now report a case of a 79-year-old Caucasian female with diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma that metastasized to the gallbladder. The patient presented with symptoms mimicking acute cholecystitis. Histological analysis of the cholecystectomy specimen showed signet ring cells in the submucosa of the gallbladder wall. Further workup, which included esophagogastroduodenoscopy, revealed linitis plastic. This is the first case of gallbladder metastasis from diffuse gastric carcinoma reported in the United States. [Arch Clin Exp Surg 2012; 1(1.000): 54-57]

Keywords

• diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma
• metastasis
• gallbladder
• acute cholecystitis