Rare gastric neoplasm: Malignant glomus tumor of the stomach. A case report

A case of gastric glomus tumor with metachronous liver metastasis after laparoscopic partial gastrectomy

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Gastric glomus tumor (GGT) is a rare submucosal mesenchymal tumor that is typically benign. However, GGT recurrence or metastasis has been reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 55-year-old man was referred to our hospital for gastric submucosal tumor (SMT) examination. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a 15 mm SMT in the anterior wall of the gastric antrum. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated a hypoechoic solid mass that invaded the proper muscle layer. In contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT), the anterior wall of the gastric antrum was thickened. Our provisional diagnosis was gastric leiomyoma. As the tumor grew rapidly, we performed laparoscopic partial gastrectomy. Histopathology revealed solid proliferation of tumor cells with oval-shaped nuclei. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin but negative for c-kit, CD34, desmin, and S-100. The MIB-1 labeling index was approximately 60 %. We then diagnosed the patient with GGT. After 2 years and 6 months, abdominal CT revealed metastatic lesions over 40 mm in diameter, with ring enhancement seen in segment 8 of the liver and another liver metastatic lesions 15 mm observed in segment 5/6. After being diagnosed with liver metastases of the GGT, the patient continued to receive chemotherapy for 26 months and was in good general condition.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Laparoscopic partial gastrectomy was performed for a rare GGT, revealing a case of asynchronous liver metastasis.

CONCLUSION

We managed a case of asynchronous liver metastasis of GGT.

Imaging findings of gastric glomus tumors

Sparse literature describes the imaging findings of gastric glomus tumors (GGT), focusing on benign tumors. We are not aware of prior radiology reports on malignant GGT. The aim of the study was to determine whether it is possible to differentiate between benign and malignant GGT on CT or MR. Institutional radiology and pathology databases were queried for the diagnosis of GGT between January 2010 to December 2023. Of 22 identified subjects, five were excluded due to non-availability of preoperative CT or MR images and three due to lack of pathological confirmation in our institution. The study cohort comprised of 14 patients (males = 6) with median age of 65 years (range 31 to 79 years). Two abdominal radiologists in consensus reviewed all relevant CT and MR images. There were 10 benign and 4 malignant GGT. Benign tumors were smaller than malignant GGT (median size of 2.0 cm vs. 5.3 cm, p = 0.03), more likely to exhibit homogeneous hyperenhancement (9/10 vs. 0/4, p < 0.01), and demonstrated intramural rather than exophytic growth. There was no substantial difference in T2 signal or diffusion restriction between benign and malignant GGT. On follow up, benign GGT were essentially stable in size, while malignant GGT grew. A biopsy proven GGT larger than 5 cm or showing necrosis is likely to be malignant. This is important since preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration may be indeterminate for malignancy.

Gastric glomus tumor with a rare presentation: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction and importance

Gastric glomus tumors (GGT) are rare soft tissue tumors of the gastrointestinal tracts (GIT). It is somewhat challenging to establish the diagnosis of GGT and differentiate it from the more common submucosal neoplasms.

Case presentation

A 34-year-old female patient presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Extensive workup including endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) revealed a well-circumscribed isoechoic mass arising from the muscularis propria. Based on fine needle biopsy (FNB) findings, with H&E stains performed only initially, the mass was considered a neuroendocrine tumor (NET). Antrectomy with Billroth II anastomosis was performed. A microscopic and immunohistochemical studies of the resected specimen showed the cells to be positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) making GGT the final diagnosis.

Clinical discussion

Of the 116 patients included in our analysis, 56.9% (n=66) were females and age group was between 41 and 64 years old in 63.8% (n=74) of the patients. About 55 cases (47.4%) had abdominal or epigastric pain or discomfort, which was the most frequent clinical symptom. In immunohistochemistry, SMA staining is present in 68.1% of the cases, underscoring its diagnostic significance. Laparotomy with wedge or partial gastrectomy was employed in 46.1% of the recorded cases. Due to malignant potential, long-term follow-up and monitoring are usually recommended.

Conclusion

Despite the rarity of GGT, they should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumors, with immunohistochemistry studies playing a major role in the diagnosis. Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation of the literature in the past 8 years was presented in a table.

Gastric glomus tumor with uncertain malignant potential: case report of a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Glomus tumors (GTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms that are typically benign. Gastric GTs are uncommon and occur mainly in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Malignant gastric GTs are extremely rare, constituting less than 1% of gastric tumors. Because their features are similar to those of other tumors found in the same gastrointestinal region, such as stromal tumors, leiomyomas, lymphomas, and lipomas, the diagnosis is challenging.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 52-year-old male patient presented with fatigue and melena. The initial endoscopic examination did not locate any source of bleeding. Six months later, pan-gastroscopy, performed due to progressive microcytic anemia, revealed a 40 × 30 mm polypoid lesion with deep ulcerations; histopathological analysis confirmed that it was a gastric GT with expression of alpha-actin and cadherin 17 and a Ki-67 index of 20%. The patient delayed surgical therapy until his symptoms worsened. Laparoscopic sleeve resection revealed a 65 × 45 × 25 mm tumor, and secondary immunohistochemical analysis revealed extensive spread into the mucosa and subserosa. Focally, the tumor bulged into some large veins. Genetic examination with RNA isolation further supported the histopathological diagnosis of gastric GT with uncertain malignant potential.

CONCLUSIONS

This case underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by gastric GTs because they are rare and their clinical features are similar to those of other gastric tumors. Thorough histopathological and molecular analysis is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Surgical intervention remains the primary therapeutic approach. This case also emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up due to the potential for recurrence and malignancy.

A case of malignant gastric glomus tumor and literature review: A case report

RATIONALE

Malignant gastric glomus tumor (GGT) is an extremely rare malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin, it affects the patient's health and even threatens life. Malignant GGT with vascular invasion is even more rarely reported in the available literature without a prognostic study. So, in this case, we report a malignant GGT with vascular invasion and performed a 5-year postoperative follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of malignant GGT with vascular invasion without recurrence 5 years after surgery. This provides examples and lessons for the treatment of malignant GGT with vascular invasion.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 49-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with gallbladder stones found on health check. After completing abdominal CT and ultrasound gastroscopy, a mass in the gastric antrum was found.

DIAGNOSES

The diagnosis of malignant GGT was confirmed by combination of postoperative pathology with positive immunohistochemistry for SMA, vimentin, synaptophysin, H-caldesmon, and calponin, mitosis > 10/50 HPF and moderate-to-severe nuclear atypia.

INTERVENTIONS

On the 6th day of hospitalization, the patient underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and cholecystectomy.

OUTCOMES

The patient was discharged successfully 1 week after surgery and was followed up for 5 years without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Malignant GGT can be asymptomatic. For malignant GGT without distant metastasis, despite the presence of vascular invasion, negative margin surgery can still be the standard surgical radical treatment.

A 65-Year-Old Man Presenting to the Emergency Department with Gastric Hemorrhage Caused by a Glomus Tumor

BACKGROUND Glomus tumor is a benign but rapidly growing mesenchymal tumor that is a rare in the gastrointestinal tract, can be locally invasive due to its rapid growth, and can result in perforation of a viscus. We report a 65-year-old man presenting as an emergency with gastric hemorrhage and gastric glomus tumor. CASE REPORT A 65-year-old man came to our hospital for a life-threatening upper digestive hemorrhage. The preoperative examinations (digestive endoscopy without sampling of biopsy fragments and contrast-enhanced computer tomography) led to the presumptive diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Wedge resection of the gastric wall was performed. The histopathological examinations revealed a proliferation of round-oval cells of medium size with a solid disposition and in nests. This proliferation dissected the muscular tunic and caused ulceration of the gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemical tests confirmed the diagnosis of glomus tumor and excluded other diagnoses (neuroendocrine tumor or gastrointestinal stromal tumor). The postoperative evolution was favorable, and at the time of discharge, the biochemical test values normalized. CONCLUSIONS Pathologists are faced with a challenging task due to the deceptive appearance that can be presented by such a rare tumor. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations are essential in achieving a precise diagnosis and assessing the biological potential of the glomus tumor. Even if it is a benign tumor, the clinical picture it causes can still be a major risk to the patient's life. Consequently, ensuring effective case management becomes crucial, as it requires a thorough comprehension of all conditions encompassed in the differential diagnosis.

Gastrointestinal Glomus Tumors: A Single Institution, 20-Year Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Glomus tumors are rare mesenchymal neoplasms composed of cells resembling those of the thermoregulatory glomus body, typically occurring in the skin and superficial soft tissues. Rarely do they occur in the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the stomach, where they have been the subject of case reports and small series. We present our institutional experience with gastrointestinal glomus tumors.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all gastrointestinal glomus tumors was conducted across all three Mayo Clinic sites in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida from 2001 to 2021. Patient characteristics, pathologic findings, imaging features, operative reports, and clinical outcomes were abstracted. Descriptive statistics were utilized to report outcomes.

RESULTS

Nine patients with glomus tumors were identified (five men and four women). The median age was 53 [interquartile range (IQR), 44-69] y. Four patients presented with abdominal discomfort, three had anemia or bleeding, and two tumors were incidentally diagnosed. Computed tomography scans identified masses thought to represent gastrointestinal stromal tumors or neuroendocrine tumors in all patients. The tumors were localized to the stomach in all cases, specifically in the gastric antrum. Seven patients underwent preoperative endoscopy, including five with endoscopic ultrasonography. Endoscopic biopsies were interpreted as glomus tumors (n = 3), neuroendocrine tumors (n = 2), and nondiagnostic (n = 2). All patients underwent open (n = 3) or minimally invasive (n = 6) margin-negative resection by wedge resection (n = 5) or distal gastrectomy (n = 4). No nodal metastases were identified radiographically or on pathologic examination. The median tumor size was 2.5 [IQR 1.3-3.4] cm. All tumors showed at least in part typical glomus tumor morphology and smooth muscle actin expression. Aberrant synaptophysin expression was present in the two tumors initially classified as NET. Using the current WHO criteria, tumors were classified as histologically malignant (n = 1) and of "uncertain malignant potential" (n = 8). At a median follow-up of 15 [IQR 1-56] mo, all patients were asymptomatic and without recurrence. Two patients died of unrelated causes. No patients received adjuvant therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our 20-year, single institution, 3-site experience with resected gastrointestinal glomus tumors suggests the rarity, predisposition to involve the gastric antrum, and potentially an indolent clinical behavior of many of these tumors. Long-term follow-up is warranted as some previously reported gastric glomus tumors have metastasized, including cases lacking morphologic evidence of malignancy. Surgical resection, with minimally invasive wedge resection alone, is likely sufficient for the management of most gastric glomus tumors.

Clinicopathologic features of gastric glomus tumor: A report of 15 cases and literature review

Objective: Glomus tumor is a relatively uncommon soft tissue neoplasm predominantly occurring in upper extremity (fingers), less reported in stomach. This study aimed to discuss the clinicopathologic features of gastric glomus tumor (GGT) and then provide reference for clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cases pathologically diagnosed of GGT was performed, pathological findings were correlated with clinical information, immunohistochemical studies, next-generation sequencing, and patient follow-ups. A review of literature by searching similar cases was conducted to summarize previous knowledge of GGTs. Results: Our study identified 15 GGTs included 5 males and 10 females, aged between 35-75 years old (median, 49 years old). The tumor was located to the gastric corpus in 6 cases (40%) and to the antrum in 9 cases (60%). The maximum tumor diameter ranged between 1-4 cm (median, 1.5 cm). There were 11 cases (73%) of solid glomus tumor, 3 cases (20%) of mixture of solid glomus tumor and glomangioma, and 1 case (7%) of glomangiomyoma. Partial spindle cell area was observed in 3 cases (20%), moderate cellular atypia in 1 case (7%), atypical mitosis in 1 case (7%), vascular invasion in 5 cases (33%), neural invasion in 6 cases (40%) and tumor necrosis in 1 case (7%). Tumor cells expressed Collagen type IV, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and synaptophysin in most cases. The Ki67 index varied from 1% to 30%. Next-generation sequencing reported EGFR, PIK3CA, KEAP1 and TP53 mutation. The outcome information was obtained in 12 (80%) cases, followed for 6-63 months, 11 patients (92%) had tumor-free survival and 1 patient (8%) developed liver metastasis 26 months after surgery. Literature review obtained 16 previously reported malignant GGT cases. In terms of the total 31 cases, univariate analysis revealed that the atypical mitosis (OS: p = 0.009; DFS: p = 0.010) and severe cellular atypia (OS: p = 0.007; DFS: p = 0.004) were significantly associated with poor prognosis (patient death). Conclusion: GGT is indolent, while long-term close follow-up should be required in the presence of increasing number of risk factors. Malignant GGT is relatively uncommon and predisposes to liver metastasis, calling for accumulation of large-sample data and experience.

Gastric Glomus Tumor: A Rare Cause of Acute Blood Loss Anemia

Gastric glomus tumors (GGTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms that arise from cells of the glomus body. These occur in the submucosa of the gastric wall and are usually benign in nature. However, it is difficult to predict tumor behavior due to the lack of reliable histological features. Diagnosis can be challenging due to the lack of specific clinical features, and radiologic and endoscopic findings. Computed tomography (CT) scan, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are key diagnostic modalities. However, the final diagnosis depends on the postoperative immunohistochemical and pathological analysis. Most GGTs can be cured by surgical or endoscopic resection. We report a case of GGT in a middle-aged woman who presented with new-onset anemia and was found to have a gastric mass that was later diagnosed as GGT after immunohistochemical staining.

Gastric glomus tumor diagnosed by fine needle aspiration of the stomach: A report of two cases and review of the literature

Glomus tumors make up 1% of stromal tumors of the stomach. Radiologic diagnosis of glomus tumors can be challenging as they share imaging characteristics with other neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been reported as a useful method for the evaluation of gastrointestinal lesions. We report two cases of gastric glomus tumors in which EUS-FNA diagnosis was challenging. Cytologically, neoplastic cells were round to oval, uniform, bland appearing epithelioid cells with delicate chromatin and inconspicuous to vague nucleoli. Both samples lacked worrisome features such as high nuclear grade, high mitotic rate, and necrosis. Neoplastic cells were negative for Cam5.2 and AE1/AE3 with focal expression of synaptophysin in one of the cases. A definitive diagnosis was not made based on FNA. Familiarity with glomus tumors in the GI system and procurement of adequate material for cell block allowing the use of immunohistochemistry may allow an accurate preoperative diagnosis.

Combined laparoscopic-endoscopic approach for gastric glomus tumor: A case report

BACKGROUND

Gastric glomus tumor (GGT) is rare submucosal mesenchymal tumor that lacks specific clinical manifestations and is usually treated mainly by traditional surgical resection. This paper presents a case of a GGT, exhibited both intraluminally and extraluminally growth that was removed by laparoscopy-gastroscopy cooperative surgery.

CASE SUMMARY

A 52-year-old male presented with epigastric discomfort accompanied by a sense of fullness for 3 mo. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy identified a submucosal lump located in the gastric antrum. Endoscopic ultrasonography identified a 2.4 cm × 1.8 cm lump located in the gastric antrum. It originated from the muscularis propria and exhibited both intraluminally and extraluminally growth, with hypoechoicity on the periphery, hyperechoicity in the middle, and unclear boundaries. Computed tomography showed nodular thickening of 3.0 cm × 2.2 cm in the gastric wall of the gastric antrum, and after enhancement, the lesion exhibited obvious enhancement We suspected that it was a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (glomus tumor and schwannoma were not excluded) and planned to perform laparoscopy-gastroscopy cooperative surgery. Immunohistochemical staining after the operation revealed that spinal muscular atrophy (+), h-caldesmon (+), cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) (+), 2% Ki-67-positive rate, CD56, melanoma antigen, CD117, discovered on GIST-1, leukocyte common antigen, caudal type homeobox 2, cytokeratin, and S-100 were all negative. The tumor was finally diagnosed as a GGT.

CONCLUSION

GGTs are rare submucosal tumors of the stomach and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastric submucosal tumors. Laparoscopy-gastroscopy cooperative surgery is less invasive and more precise and could be an effective method for the treatment of GGTs.