Linitis plastica
Linitis plastica (sometimes referred to as leather bottle stomach) is a morphological variant of diffuse stomach cancer in which the stomach wall becomes thick and rigid. Linitis plastica is a type of adenocarcinoma and accounts for 3–19% of gastric adenocarcinomas. Causes of cancerous linitis plastica are commonly primary gastric cancer, but in rarer cases could be metastatic infiltration of the stomach, particularly breast and lung carcinoma. It is not associated with H. pylori infection or chronic gastritis. The risk factors are undefined, except for rare inherited mutations in E-cadherin. The hereditary form of this cancer, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, accounts for only 1–3% of gastric adenocarcinomas. Somatic mutations in this gene are found in about 50% of diffuse-type gastric carcinomas.
| Linitis plastica | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Leather bottle stomach |
 | |
| Endoscopic image of linitis plastica, where the entire stomach is invaded with stomach cancer, leading to a leather bottle like appearance | |
| Specialty | Oncology  |
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Linitis plastica (sometimes referred to as leather bottle stomach) is a morphological variant of diffuse stomach cancer in which the stomach wall becomes thick and rigid.[1]
Linitis plastica is a type of adenocarcinoma and accounts for 3–19% of gastric adenocarcinomas.[1] Causes of cancerous linitis plastica are commonly primary gastric cancer, but in rarer cases could be metastatic infiltration of the stomach, particularly breast and lung carcinoma.[2] It is not associated with H. pylori infection or chronic gastritis. The risk factors are undefined, except for rare inherited mutations in E-cadherin. The hereditary form of this cancer, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, accounts for only 1–3% of gastric adenocarcinomas. Somatic mutations in this gene are found in about 50% of diffuse-type gastric carcinomas.[2]
Signs and symptoms
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Diffuse stomach cancer is characterized by the presence of poorly differentiated tumor cells. Under a microscope, these appear as signet ring cells, meaning that mucin droplets are visible that displace the nucleus to one side.
Symptoms of linitis plastica do not usually present until the disease is in an advanced stage, making early diagnosis difficult. Symptoms are similar to those of stomach cancer including: difficulty swallowing, weight loss, indigestion, and vomiting.[3]
History
[edit]The condition was defined by William Brinton in 1859.[4]
Notable cases
[edit]Napoleon Bonaparte and many members of his family are thought to have died from this type of cancer, although it is believed by others that he may have died from arsenic poisoning.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Jafferbhoy S, Shiwani H, Rustum Q (2013). "Managing Gastric Linitis Plastica: Keep the scalpel sheathed". Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 13 (3): 451–3. doi:10.12816/0003269. PMC 3749031. PMID 23984032.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Robbins Basic Pathology, 8th Edition
- ^ "Linitis plastica of the stomach | Cancer Research UK".
- ^ Agnes, Annamaria; Estrella, Jeannelyn S.; Badgwell, Brian (2017-07-05). "The significance of a nineteenth century definition in the era of genomics: linitis plastica". World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 15 (1): 123. doi:10.1186/s12957-017-1187-3. ISSN 1477-7819. PMC 5498981. PMID 28679451.
- ^ Bevan S, Houlston RS (1999). "Genetic predisposition to gastric cancer". QJM: Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians. 92 (1): 5–10. doi:10.1093/qjmed/92.1.5. PMID 10209666.
External links
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- "Carcinoma of the Stomach." at patient.info