[A case of multicentric early carcinoma of the stomach--preoperative diagnosis]

A 59-year-old man was admitted complaining of substernal pain and anorexia. Upper GI series revealed a benign gastric ulcer in the posterior wall, and gastrofiberscopy was done. Besides the benign lesion, two early carcinomas of type IIc were found. Biopsy specimens of both lesions showed malignancy and gastrectomy was performed. Histological investigation revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the anterior wall and well differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma in the posterior wall. Both lesions were absolutely independent and isolated. In most instances, multicentric or multiple early gastric carcinomas manifest similar histological features, but in our case, the lesions were of different types.