Abstract
We herein present a case of resected synchronous solitary liver metastasis from alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing early gastric cancer. A 61-year-old woman, who was diagnosed at a routine medical checkup as having early gastric cancer with a liver tumor, came to our hospital for surgery. Her serum AFP level was high at 910ng/ml. An examination was performed to determine whether the liver tumor was primary hepatocellular carcinoma or metastasis from early gastric cancer. She had no evidence of either a hepatitis B or C virus infection, and her liver function was normal. A biopsy specimen from the gastric cancer predominantly revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, but a focally trabecular pattern compatible with AFP-producing gastric cancer was also observed. Preoperatively, it was concluded that the liver tumor was metastasis from an AFP-producing early gastric cancer. We thus performed distal gastrectomy and a posterior segmentectomy of the liver. Her serum AFP level decreased to the normal range within 2 weeks after the operation. An immunohistological examination revealed that AFP-positive cells were present in both the gastric cancer and liver tumor. One year after the operation, there was no sign of recurrence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bourreille J, Metayer P, Sauger F (1970) Existence d'alpha foeto protéine aucours d'un cancer secondaire du foie d'origine gastrique. Presse Med 78:1277–1278
Yoshizumi Y, Morisaki Y, Sugiura Y, Tamai S, Tanaka S, (1995) Alpha-fetoprotein-producing early gastric cancer: Report of a case (in Japanese with English abstract). Gann no Rinsho (Jpn J Cancer Clin) 41:843–847
Suganuama M, Funabiki T, Futawatari H, Ochiai M, Mori K, Morishita H, Sasayama Y (1995) A case of AFP-producing early gastric cancer metastasizing to the liver (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Shokaki Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Jpn J Gastroenterol Surg) 28:1086–1089
Nakazaki T, Tobinaga K, Taketomi K, Kimino K, Nakasone T (1995) A case of AFP-producing early gastric cancer (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Soc Clin Surg) 56:2089–2093
Kato M, Kinoshita K, Sawa T, Yoshimitsu S, Yonemura Y, Miwa K, Miyazaki I, Matsui Y (1990) Early gastric cancer of type IIa+IIc producing alpha-fetoprotein with liver metastasis —Report of a case (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Shokaki Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Jpn J Gastroenterol Surg) 23:2624–2628
Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer (1993) The general rules for the gastric cancer study in surgery and pathology, 13th edn., Kanehara, Tokyo, pp. 1–89
Matsunou H, Konishi F, Roswelly EAJ, Yamamichi N, Mukawa A (1994) Alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric carcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation. Cancer 73:534–540
Ishikura H, Mizuno K, Shamoto M, Kirimoto K (1987) Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (in Japanese with English abstract). I to Cho (Stomach Intestine) 22:75–83
Hamilton WJ, Massman HW (1972) Human embryology. Prenatal development of form and function. 4th edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore
Tsuchida Y, Kaneko M, Fukui M, Sakasguchi H, Ischguro T (1989) Three different types of alpha-fetoprotein in the diagnosis of malignant solid tumors. J Pediatr Surg 24:350–355
Gonda T, Ishida H, Higuchi T, Hirukawa H (1994) A case of AFP-producing gastric cancer successfully treated with EAP (etoposide, Adriamycin, cisplatin) therapy (in Japanese with English abstract). Gan to Kagaku Ryoho (Jpn J Cancer Chemother) 21:1659–1663
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsurumachi, T., Yamamoto, H., Watanabe, K. et al. Resection of liver metastasis from alpha-fetoprotein-producing early gastric cancer: Report of a case. Surg Today 27, 563–566 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02385813
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02385813