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Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Extrahepatic Tumor: Clinical and Histopathological Significance of a Case

Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer volume 43, pages 28–31 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

The serum rise of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been relationed to hepatic tumors. Other than these, such as gastric adenocarcinoma, can present with high levels of this glycoprotein. One rare kind of gastric adenocarcinoma, called hepatoid subtype, has two essential features: hepatoid differentiation in histology and high levels of AFP in serum.

Discussions

We report a Spanish female who consulted because of fatigue, anorexia, and weight loss. In laboratory data, she presented anemia and markedly elevation of AFP. On CT scan, a gastric mass resulted without hepatic dissemination, and subsequently, gastroduodenoscopy was performed for histological diagnosis. Then, an ulcerated mass was detected and sample was taken, resulting in poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma of stomach with hepatoid tissue foci, with intense positivity for AFP-immunohistochemical staining. This rare cancer has poor prognosis even with early gastrectomy and chemotherapy.

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Affiliations

  1. Emergency Department, Rapid diagnosis Unit, Madrid, Spain

    Jose A. Nuevo-Gonzalez, Juan C. Cano-Ballesteros & Juan A. Andueza-Lillo

  2. Department of Pathology, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain

    Beatriz Lopez

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain

    Luis Audibert

  4. Emergency department, Hospital Gregorio Marañón, C/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    Jose A. Nuevo-Gonzalez

Authors
  1. Jose A. Nuevo-Gonzalez
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  2. Juan C. Cano-Ballesteros
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  3. Beatriz Lopez
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  4. Juan A. Andueza-Lillo
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  5. Luis Audibert
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Correspondence to Jose A. Nuevo-Gonzalez.

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Nuevo-Gonzalez, J.A., Cano-Ballesteros, J.C., Lopez, B. et al. Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Extrahepatic Tumor: Clinical and Histopathological Significance of a Case. J Gastrointest Canc 43, 28–31 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-011-9310-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-011-9310-0

Keywords

  • Gastric adenocarcinoma
  • Alpha-fetoprotein
  • Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach