Unveiling the clinicopathological enigma of crawling-type gastric adenocarcinoma

In this editorial we comment on the article by Xu et al. Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is a malignancy which arises from the gastric mucosa and encompasses heterogenous tumors with varying characteristics. There are two main classifications: Lauren's and the World Health Organization distinguishing the diverse types of GA depending on clinical, genetic, morphological and epidemiological features. "Crawling-type" adenocarcinoma (CRA) is a subtype characterized by irregularly fused glands with low-grade cellular atypia. Moreover, CRA represents differentiated tumor cells resembling intestinal metaplasia which results in misdiagnosis. The diagnosis is of utmost importance, as well as the subclassification and thorough pathological assessment. With regard to the symptoms of GA, these depend on the stage of the disease. Diagnostic methods play a crucial role in assessing the extent of the tumor and the stage of the disease. Nevertheless, early detection of CRA remains challenging due to its histological features. In summary, CRA is a distinct type of GA with particular clinicopathological and histological characteristics. Despite its significance, it not distinguished as a subtype, resulting in diagnostic challenges. Diagnosis is based on careful observation and thorough biopsy analysis, indicating the importance of comprehensive pathological assessment.