Advanced gastric cancer associated with DIC successfully treated with 5-FU and cisplatin: a case report

We report a case of advanced gastric cancer complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation successfully treated with chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. The patient was a 53-year-old woman who complained of loss of appetite, weight loss, and low back pain. Based on the laboratory data, a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation was made. Gastroscopy revealed gastric carcinoma (Borrmann type 3) that was continuously bleeding, and chest computed tomography showed a solitary lung metastasis and bilateral pleural effusion. Bone scintigraphy revealed multiple bone metastases. Accordingly, we made a diagnosis of stage IV gastric cancer complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation. We selected the 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin combination chemotherapy for treatment and obtained the patient's consent. After two cycles of the 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin therapy, the bleeding symptoms improved and the disseminated intravascular coagulation process was successfully controlled. We concluded that disseminated intravascular coagulation caused by gastric cancer may be improved when the primary cancer and its metastases are brought under control by treatment with FP combination chemotherapy.