A case of carcinoid of Meckel's diverticulum associated with gastric adenocarcinoma

Meckel's diverticulum is an uncommon gastrointestinal congenital anomaly th at occurs in 1-3% of the population. It is sometimes associated with compli cations related to the presence of ectopic tissue (obstruction, ulceration, hemmorhage, inflammation, perforation, fistula and tumors). Neoplastic deg eneration of Meckel's diverticulum mucosa is rare, developing in only 1-5% of all diverticula, usually asymptomatic and occasionally discovered. Disea se is metastatic, usually to the liver, in 25% of cases. We report a case o f asymptomatic unsuspected carcinoid of Meckel's diverticulum with ileal, h epatic and mesenteric metastasis discovered during a gastrectomy performed for gastric adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent ileal and Meckel divertic ulum resection, excision of mesenterial metastasis and liver bisegmentectom y. Furthermore, total gastrectomy with esophago-jejunal anastomosis was per formed. After an 18-month follow-up period, the patient is alive and diseas e free. Owing to possible neoplastic degeneration, Meckel's diverticulum sh ould be resected when occasionally discovered. In the presence of a carcino id tumor, even if associated with metastatic disease, extended resection is recommended.