Resection of liver metastasis from alpha-fetoprotein-producing early gastric cancer: report of a case

Surg Today. 1997;27(6):563-6. doi: 10.1007/BF02385813.

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 910 ng/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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Female
  • Gastrectomy
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / surgery
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • alpha-Fetoproteins