Evaluation of Gastric Carcinomas Histological Patterns in Relation to Tumors Aggressiveness Parameters

Abstract

Gastric carcinomas are frequent tumors with variable growth patterns that may interfere with the evaluation of histopathological prognostic parameters of the lesions. In this study we analyzed the incidence and statistical relation of histological growth patterns depending on the prognostic parameters of gastric carcinomas for 95 cases. Pure forms were present in 82.2% of cases, from which more frequent subtypes were low grade tubular carcinomas and poorly cohesive with signet-ring cells carcinomas. Mixed forms were present in 17.8% of cases, with the highest incidence of tumors containing well differentiated tubular carcinoma and poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma areas. Analysis of the identified types and subtypes in relation to the histological prognostic parameters indicated significant differences regarding the tumor stage, the mixed subtypes being more frequent in advanced stages. Although mixed subtypes were more commonly associated with vascular and perineural invasion, the aspects were statistically insignificant. Together with tumor stage, the lymphovascular and/or perineural invasion should be taken into consideration as prognostic indicators in the postoperative management of gastric cancer.

Keywords: Gastric carcinoma; histological pattern; prognostic parameters.

Figure 1

Cases distribution related to tumor type and stage (A), lymphovascular invasion (B) and peri-/intraneural invasion invasion (C). Cases distribution related to tumoral subtype and stage (D), lymphovascular invasion (E) and peri-/intraneural invasion (F)