Gastric carcinoma with bone marrow metastasis: a case series

• Published in: Journal of gastric cancer Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 54 - 57
• Main Authors: Ekinci, Ahmet Şiyar, Bal, Oznur, Ozatlı, Tahsin, Türker, Ibrahim, Eşbah, Onur, Demirci, Ayşe, Budakoğlu, Burçin, Arslan, Ulkü Yalçıntaş, Eraslan, Emrah, Oksüzoğlu, Berna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 01.03.2014; 대한위암학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 일반외과학; Bone marrow metastasis; Poor prognosis; Stomach neoplasms
• ISSN: 2093-582X; 2093-5641
• DOI: 10.5230/jgc.2014.14.1.54

Gastric cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality. At the time of diagnosis, majority of the patients usually have unresectable or metastatic disease. The most common sites of metastases are the liver and the peritoneum, but in the advanced stages, there may be metastases to any region of the body. Bone marrow is an important metastatic site for solid tumors, and the prognosis in such cases is poor. In gastric cancer cases, bone marrow metastasis is usually observed in younger patients and in those with poorly differentiated tumors. Prognosis is worsened owing to the poor histomorphology as well as the occurrence of pancytopenia. The effect of standard chemotherapy is unknown, as survival is limited to a few weeks. This report aimed to evaluate 5 gastric cancer patients with bone marrow metastases to emphasize the importance of this condition.