A Review of 6 Cases of Endocrine Carcinoma of the Stomach

Abstract

Gastric endocrine carcinoma is reported to be a comparatively rare type of gastric cancer, accounting for approximately 0.6% of all gastric malignancies. Six cases of gastric endocrine carcinomas seen from January 2000 to June 2013 were reviewed. Age, sex, location, clinical stages, convalescence, and the simultaneous presence of conventional adenocarcinoma were examined. The mean age was 66.7 (56 - 78) years, and all 6 cases were males. Two cases were located in the upper part, 3 in the middle, and one in the lower part of the stomach. One case was macroscopic type 0-I, 3 were type 2, and 2 were type 3. One case each was Stage IA and Stage IIA, and 4 were Stage IV. Four cases underwent surgery. One case is alive free of recurrence, while 3 cases died within a year; the mean survival was 213 days after surgery. Two cases underwent chemotherapy alone; both died from recurrence. The mean survival time after treatment was 330 days. Immunohistochemical staining showed that all 6 cases were positive for synaptophysin and CD56, and 5 cases were positive for chromogranin A. Three cases showed concomitant conventional adenocarcinoma. The 6 cases of gastric endocrine carcinoma presented showed only short-term survival, both in resected and unresected cases, and a poor prognosis.