Two autopsy cases of primary adenoacanthoma of the stomach

The incidence of primary adenoacanthoma of the stomach is extremely low. In the Sasebo City Hospital, there were only two autopsy cases of adenoacanthoma among 46 cases of gastric cancer during the past four years. The first case was a 45-year-old female with metachronous triple cancers; adenoacanthoma of the stomach, squamous cell carcinoma of the uterus and squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Histological examination showed muconodular adenoacarcinoma of the stomach at the time of first operation and adenocanthoma at the time of autopsy. These two cases suggest that adenoacanthomas of the stomach may originate from squamous metaplasia or squamous differentiation of a preexisting glandular carcinoma.