GASTRIC CANCER WITH TUMOR THROMBUS IN THE LEFT GASTRIC VEIN

Abstract

We clinicopathologically studied gastric cancer patients with tumor thrombus in the left gastric vein. Of 362 gastric cancer patients operated on from 1991 to 2000, 10 (2.8%) developed tumor thrombus in the left gastric vein, which remained in 8; existed continuously from the left gastric vein to the splenic vein in 1; and existed continuously from the left gastric vein to the splenic/portal stem veins in 1. Gastric cancer predominantly occupied the upper or middle stomach and most were elevated, including 7 type 3. All 10 patients showed advanced gastric cancer with SS or more invasion; histological types including poor differentiation in 6 and differentiated in 4 patients; significant vascular infiltration; high α-fetoprotein (AFP) in 2; and liver metastases in 6. Resection with curability B was conducted in 2. Prognosis included nonrecurrent survival 24 months postoperatively in 1; tumor bearing survival at 6 months postoperatively in 1; and cancer death within 2 years postoperatively in 8. Resection may thus improve prognosis.