A Case of Appendiceal Metastasis from Gastric Cancer

Yuichi Yuyama, Itaru Hasegawa*, Hisashi Fujioka*, Tomohisa Furuhata, Kouichi Hirata

First Department of Surgery, Sapporo Medical University
*Department of Surgery, Saiseikai Otaru Hokusei Hospital

Appendiceal metastasis of gastric cancer is rare; only 13 cases have been reported in the Japanese literature. A 41-year-old woman underwent total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Because she hoped to undergo appendectomy for intermittent right lower abdominal pain, we performed appendectomy after strict observation of the abdomen. Macroscopically, the gastric cancer showed P₀·H₀·N₁S₁, and was stage II. No inflammatory or maligant findings were observed in the appendix. However, the appendix showed the same poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma as the histological examination of the gastric cancer. Therefore, she was diagnosed as having an appendiceal metastasis from gastric cancer. The patient has survived without recurrence for two years after the operation. Appendiceal metastasis of gastric cancer has been reported in few cases, all of which were found in postoperation for secondary acute appendicitis. This case is extremely rare, considering the metastatic site and absence of the complication of secondary acute appendicitis.

Key words
gastric cancer, appendiceal metastasis of gastric cancer, secondary acute appendicitis

Reprint requests
Yuichi Yuyama First Department of Surgery, Sapporo Medical University
S-1 W-16 Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060 JAPAN

Accepted
July 7, 1993

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