Hepatic tissue in gastroscopic biopsy: evidence of hepatic penetration by peptic ulcer

We describe a patient with peptic ulcer of the stomach penetrating into the liver, in whom diagnosis was made by histological examination of the gastroscopic biopsy. The liver tissue affected by this local "peptic hepatitis" displayed marked inflammatory and regeneratory atypia that could raise suspicion of an adenocarcinoma. The possibility of finding liver cells and tissue (or pancreatic and splenic tissues) in the gastric biopsy and brushing/washing material should be kept in mind in cases of large peptic ulcers.