Two Cases of Resected Gastric Cancer Forming a Tumor Embolus in the Extrahepatic Portal Vein

Takao Inada, Yoshiroh Ogata, Iwao Ozawa, Shouichi Hishinuma, Hideaki Shimizu, Kenjiroh Kotake, Tadashi Ikeda

Department of Surgery, Tochigi Cancer Center

We have recently experienced two patients with gastric cancer forming a tumor embolus in the extrahepatic portal vein. Case 1. A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of gastric cancer with liver metastasis. He had an elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. At the operation, a tumor embolus was seen from the left gastric vein to the portal vein, and it was resected with the portal vein. Post-operative immunohistochemical study revealed that AFP was produced by the gastric carcinoma. Case 2. A 50-year-old man who had been suffering from upper abdominal pain and severe anemia was admitted for surgery. Preoperative abdominal CT and angiography indicated a tumor embolus from the superior mesenteric vein to the portal vein. Total gastrectomy was carried out, but the tumor embolus could not be completely removed.

Key words
portal vein tumor embolus, gastric cancer

Reprint requests
Takao Inada Department of Surgery, Tochigi Cancer Center
4-9-13 Yohnan, Utsunomiya, 320 JAPAN

Accepted
June 5, 1991

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