15347              DIFFUSE MUCOID CARCINOMA OF THE STOMACH

The patient was a man aged 48 with a 4-month history of dysphagia for solid foods and severe weight loss.  Gastroscopy showed carcinoma in the lower oesophagus which on biopsy proved to be an adenocarcinoma.  At laparotomy an inoperable carcinoma involving most of the stomach as well as the lower oesophagus was found.  A Souttar's tube was inserted.  The patient deteriorated steadily and died 3 months later.  At postmortem there were multiple metastases in upper abdominal lymph nodes and in the liver.

The specimen consists of the stomach with the lower 15 cms of the oesophagus, viewed from behind.  There is massive pale mucin-secreting carcinoma of the lesser curvature which is diffusely infiltrated and thickened by the tumour.