Carcinoma of the stomach in childhood

A case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach is described in a 20-month-old child with a large abdominal mass. The lesion arose from the lesser curvature of the stomach and invaded the submucosa and lymphatic channels. A partial response to chemotherapy, including vincristine, Cytoxan, actinomycin D, and adriamycin, was noted, but the patient died 3 1/2 months following diagnosis shortly after gastric perforation and peritonitis developed. Autopsy revealed a pattern of widespread visceral metastases, accompanied by pathologic findings suggestive of ataxia-telangiectasia. A diagnosis of mucinous adenocarcinoma, although it is rare, should be considered in the evaluation of primary neoplasms of the stomach in children.