RESECTION OF LIVER METASTASIS FROM ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN-PRODUCING EARLY GASTRIC-CANCER - REPORT OF A CASE

We herein present a case of resected synchronous solitary liver metast asis from alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)producing early gastric cancer. A 61- year-old woman, who was diagnosed at a routine medical checkup as havi ng early gastric cancer, with a liver tumor, came to our hospital for surgery, Her serum AFP level was high at 910 ng/ml, An examination was performed to determine whether the liver tumor was primary hepatocell ular carcinoma or metastasis from early gastric cancer, She had no evi dence of either a hepatitis B or C virus infection, and her liver func tion was normal. A biopsy specimen from the gastric cancer predominant ly revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, but a focally tr abecular pattern compatible with AFP-producing gastric cancer was also observed, Preoperatively, it was concluded that the liver tumor was m etastasis from an AFP-producing early gastric cancer, We thus performe d distal gastrectomy and a posterior segmentectomy of the liver. Her s erum AFP level decreased to the normal range within 2 weeks after the operation, An immunohistological examination revealed that AFP-positiv e cells were present in both the gastric cancer and liver tumor. One y ear after the operation, there was no sign of recurrence.