GASTRIC SMALL-CELL CARCINOMA IN JAPAN - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The authors encountered a patient with primary gastric small-cell carc inoma (primary gastric SCC). Histologic examination revealed combined carcinoma containing nonsmall-cell elements such as adenocarcinoma and squamous cell differentiation. On preoperative biopsy, only well-diff erentiated adenocarcinoma was collected. Since gastric SCC was first r eported in 1976, this type of carcinoma has been detected in 54 patien ts in Japan. Concerning these cases, the authors reviewed the light an d/or electron microscopic findings of neuroendocrine granules, positiv e reaction for neuron-specific enolase staining, and the histologic ty pe of resected specimens. There were only three patients positive for neuron-specific enolase in which light and electron microscopy demonst rated neuroendocrine granules. However, 50 patients (approximately 93% ) overall satisfied at least one of these findings. Concerning the his tologic characteristics of the resected specimens, multidirectional di fferentiation was more markedly observed compared with that in SCC of the lung. Adenocarcinomatous and/or squamous differentiation was obser ved in mon than half the cases, and preoperative biopsy suggested carc inoma other than SCC or undifferentiated carcinoma in several cases.