Endoscopic diagnosis of metastatic disease of the stomach and duodenum

The commonest tumours which metastasise to the upper gastrointestinal tract are from malignant melanoma, carcinoma of the breast and lung. Over a period of 12 months, three persons with known malignant disease were submitted to endoscopy by reason of upper gastrointestinal symptoms which could have been due to associated non-malignant disease. Two patients had known malignant melanoma and one a carcinoma of the breast. In each instance, endoscopy and biopsy demonstrated evidence of metastatic disease.