A diaphragmatic tumor mimicking gastric neoplasm: a clinical case report

The vast majority of patients with tumors arising from the diaphragm do not have any specific clinical symptoms, therefore, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the techniques required for the diagnosis. This is particularly relevant when a pathological mass has grown to an extent producing a “mass effect” on the adjacent organs. In some cases, clinical symptoms of arise due to the local invasion of the neoplasm to the adjacent tissues or distant metastases. We present a rare clinical case of a mesenchymal diaphragmatic tumor in a 34-year-old patient. After a review of her clinical status and imaging of the abdomen, including CT and MRI, the preliminary diagnosis of the gastric neoplasm of uncertain behavior (D37.1) was made, despite the initial diagnostic assumption of the exogastric location of the mass based on MRI. After careful consideration of the diagnostic assessment results, a multidisciplinary decision was made to perform laparoscopic resection of the mass. The intraoperative finding was a tumor originating from the left diaphragmatic cupula with no involvement of the stomach. The patient's recovery was uneventful. Pathological examination revealed a solitary calcifying fibrous tumor of the diaphragm. This clinical case shows that a mass arising from the diaphragm can mimic one arising from the gastric fundus, leading to an incorrect diagnosis and subsequent inappropriate management.

Efficacy of Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging in visualizing gastric mucosal atrophy and gastric neoplasms

In 2020, Olympus Medical Systems Corporation introduced the Texture and Color Enhancement Imaging (TXI) as a new image-enhanced endoscopy. This study aimed to evaluate the visibility of neoplasms and mucosal atrophy in the upper gastrointestinal tract through TXI. We evaluated 72 and 60 images of 12 gastric neoplasms and 20 gastric atrophic/nonatrophic mucosa, respectively. The visibility of gastric mucosal atrophy and gastric neoplasm was assessed by six endoscopists using a previously reported visibility scale (1 = poor to 4 = excellent). Color differences between gastric mucosal atrophy and nonatrophic mucosa and between gastric neoplasm and adjacent areas were assessed using the International Commission on Illumination L*a*b* color space system. The visibility of mucosal atrophy and gastric neoplasm was significantly improved in TXI mode 1 compared with that in white-light imaging (WLI) (visibility score: 3.8 ± 0.5 vs. 2.8 ± 0.9, p < 0.01 for mucosal atrophy; visibility score: 2.8 ± 1.0 vs. 2.0 ± 0.9, p < 0.01 for gastric neoplasm). Regarding gastric atrophic and nonatrophic mucosae, TXI mode 1 had a significantly greater color difference than WLI (color differences: 14.2 ± 8.0 vs. 8.7 ± 4.2, respectively, p < 0.01). TXI may be a useful observation modality in the endoscopic screening of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Prognostic factors for ESD of early gastric cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and study aims Gastric neoplasms are one of the leading types of cancer in the world and early detection is essential to improve prognosis. Endoscopy is the gold-standard diagnostic procedure and allows adequate treatment in selected cases. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been reported to safely address most early gastric cancers (EGCs), with high curability rates. However, data on prognostic factors related to ESDs of EGCs are conflicting. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the available literature and to perform a meta-analysis to identify the relevant prognostic factors in this context. Methods We performed this study according to PRISMA guidelines. Comparative studies assessing the relationship between curative resection or long-term curability rates and relevant prognostic factors were selected. Prognostic factors were demographic data, lesion features (location, morphology of the lesion, size, and depth of invasion), histological findings, Helycobacter pylori (HP) infection, presence of gastric a atrophy and body mass index (BMI). Finally, we also evaluated risk factors related to metachronous gastric neoplasm. Results The initial search retrieved 2829 records among which 46 studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The total sample comprised 28366 patients and 29282 lesions. Regarding curative resection, pooled data showed no significant influence of sex [odds ratio (OR): 1.15 (0,97, 1.36) P = 0.10 I2 = 47 %] , age [OR: 1.00 (0.61, 1.64) P = 1.00 I2 = 58 %], posterior vs non-posterior location [OR: 1.35 (0.81, 2.27) P = 0.25 I2 = 84 %], depressed vs von-depressed macroscopic type[OR: 1.21 (0.99, 1.49) P = 0.07 I2 = 0 %], non-upper vs upper location [OR: 1.41 (0.93, 2.14) P = 0.10 I2 = 77 %] and BMI [OR: 0.84 (0.57; 1.26) P = 0.41 I2 = 0 %]. Differentiated neoplasms presented greater chance of cure compare to undifferentiated [OR: 0.10 (0.07, 0.15) P < 0.00001 I2 = 0 %]. Ulcerated lesions had lower curative rates compared to non-ulcerated [OR: 3.92 (2.81, 5.47) P < 0.00001 I2 = 44 %]. Lesions smaller than 20 mm had greater chance of curative resection [OR: 3.94 (3.25, 4.78) P < 0.00001 I2 = 38 %]. Bleeding during procedure had lower curative rates compared to non-bleeding [OR: 2.13 (1.56, 2.93) P < 0.0001 I2 = 0 %]. Concerning long-term cure, female gender [OR 1.62 (1.33, 1.97) P < 0.00001 I2 = 0 %] and the mucosal over SM1 cancers were protective factors [OR: 0.08 (0.02, 0.39) P = 0.002 I2 = 86 %]. Gastric atrophy [OR: 0.60 (0.45, 0.81) P = 0.0006 I2 = 42 %] and the pepsinogen I/pepsinogen II ratio [OR 2.29 (1.47, 3.57) P = 0.0002 I2 = 0 %] were risk factors to metachronous gastric neoplasm. Conclusions Ulcerated lesions, histology, bleeding and size > 20 mm are prognostic factors concerning curative resection. Regarding long-term cure, female gender and mucosal over SM1 cancer are predictive factors. Gastric atrophy and the pepsinogen ratio are risk factors for metachronous gastric neoplasm.