Incarceration of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from the proximal stomach with an organoaxial gastric volvulus through an esophageal hiatal hernia: report of a case

Abstract

An 86-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital to undergo an examination for tarry stools. Laboratory tests showed hypoproteinemia and renal dysfunction. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a type 5 tumor located in the upper body of the stomach. An upper gastrointestinal series and computed tomography revealed an organoaxial gastric volvulus and the dislocation of the proximal stomach through an esophageal hiatal hernia. The preoperative diagnosis was the incarceration of a gastric carcinoma arising from the proximal stomach with an organoaxial gastric volvulus through an esophageal hiatal hernia. A total gastrectomy and hernia repair were performed. A microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed a gastric large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (GLCNEC). The patient was discharged 22 days after the surgery. Although the prognosis of GLCNEC is significantly worse than that of a conventional adenocarcinoma, the patient was doing well without recurrence at 15 months after surgery. The details of this case are reported with some bibliographical comments.