TWO LONG SURVIVED CASES OF GASTRIC CANCER METASTASIZED TO THE BONE MARROW AFTER OPERATION FOR THE PRIMARY LESION

Abstract

Bone marrow metastasis from gastric cancer uncommonly occurs among the probable other organ metastases. It easily proceeds to disseminated intravasclar coagulation (DIC) and it was reported that an average survival period was about 5 months. Generally, there are few possible candidates for operation, and no case has been discharged from the hospital following surgical excision of the primary lesion. Recent 2 patients who were found to have a gastric cancer with bone marrow metastasis before surgery and could survive for a long term after gastrectomy are described.
Both 46-year-old and 71-year-old men who were concerned about bleeding tendency during and after operation were able to get off postoperative complication by anti-DIC treatments. They could be discharged from the hospital and survived for 23 months and 9 months respectively. Gastric cancers associating with bone marrow metastasis have a poor prognosis, however, this operative treatment is reasonable in terms of “quality of life” as well. Timely operation should be considered case by case.