Gastric involvement by omental cakes: radiographic findings

Six cases of malignancy (3 ovarian, 1 endometrial, 1 cecal, and 1 breast) were collected in which upper gastrointestinal (UGI) examinations revealed mass effect, nodularity, flattening, and/or spiculated mucosal folds on the greater curvature of the stomach due to contiguous spread of tumor from the greater omentum. Carcinoma of the transverse colon invading the stomach via the gastrocolic ligament may produce identical radiographic findings. In 3 cases, however, barium enema (BE) examinations revealed simultaneous involvement of the transverse colon by omental tumor as well as other evidence of intraperitoneal seeding. When a UGI examination suggests gastric involvement by omental metastases or so-called omental "cakes," a BE should be performed to demonstrate associated colonic involvement and to rule out a carcinoma of the transverse colon as the cause of these radiographic findings.