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[Gastric cancer: an unusual presentation]
Rosanna Alegre1, A Malvido, J Nakamura
1Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Escuela J. F. de San Martín, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.
Acta Gastroenterologica Latinoamericana
|January 8, 2004
Summary
A young male presented with rectal bleeding and was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Further examination revealed gastric adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells, an unusual presentation for this cancer type.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Rectal bleeding, straining, and tenesmus are common symptoms that can indicate various colorectal conditions.
- Gastric adenocarcinoma, particularly the signet ring cell subtype, is typically associated with upper gastrointestinal symptoms.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old male presented with proctorrhage, straining, and rectal tenesmus.
- Pathological anatomy of a rectal tumor revealed adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells, suggesting a gastric origin.
- High endoscopy identified multiple gastric polyps (cardiac orifice, body, antrum) with identical histology.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with rectal cancer.
- Histological analysis indicated gastric adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells.
- The gastric polyps shared the same histology as the rectal tumor.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual clinical presentation of gastric cancer presenting initially as rectal cancer.
- It underscores the importance of considering metastatic disease from an occult primary gastric source in young patients with rectal complaints.
- The findings warrant further investigation into the potential for gastric signet ring cell adenocarcinoma to metastasize to the rectum, even in the absence of typical gastric symptoms.