Abstract

Small cell carcinoma (SmCC) of stomach is a very rare and aggressive malignancy with extremely poor prognosis. Most patients with gastric SmCC die within 1 year of diagnosis. A standard treatment for gastric SmCC has not been established, but surgical excision and/or combination chemotherapy should be considered to promote long term survival. We report a case of small cell carcinoma of stomach in a 66-year-old woman with dysphagia. A gastroscopic examination revealed a polypoid mass with ulceration on the lesser curvature of the gastric body extending to the gastro-esophageal junction. An endoscopic biopsy showed a solid proliferation of small, monotonous tumor cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and scanty cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for chromogranin, synaptophysin and NSE, and negative for CD45. No tumor was detected on examination of the chest. Therefore, primary SmCC was diagnosed preoperatively. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2004;28:307⁣311)

• Keywords: Dysphagia, Gastric small cell carcinoma