Published online Oct 27, 2020. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v12.i10.435
Peer-review started: June 30, 2020
First decision: July 30, 2020
Revised: August 13, 2020
Accepted: September 14, 2020
Article in press: September 14, 2020
Published online: October 27, 2020
Processing time: 118 Days and 11.6 Hours
Mass lesions located in the wall of the stomach (and also of the bowel) are referred to as “intramural.” The differential diagnosis of such lesions can be challenging in some cases. As such, it may occur that an inconclusive fine needle aspiration (FNA) result give way to an unexpected diagnosis upon final surgical pathology. Herein, we present a case of an intramural gastric nodule mimicking a gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
A 47-year-old Caucasian woman, who had undergone splenectomy for trauma at the age of 16, underwent gastroscopy for long-lasting epigastric pain and dyspepsia. It revealed a 15 mm submucosal nodule bulging into the gastric lumen with smooth margins and normal overlying mucosa. A thoraco-abdominal computed tomography scan showed in the gastric fundus a rounded mass (30 mm in diameter) with an exophytic growth and intense enhancement after administration of intravenous contrast. Endoscopic ultrasound scan showed a hypoechoic nodule, and fine needle FNA was inconclusive. Gastric GIST was considered the most probable diagnosis, and surgical resection was proposed due to symptoms. A laparoscopic gastric wedge resection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. The final pathology report described a rounded encapsulated accumulation of lymphoid tissue of about 4 cm in diameter consistent with spleen parenchyma implanted during the previous splenectomy.
Splenosis is a rare condition that should always be considered as a possible diagnosis in splenectomized patients who present with an intramural gastric nodule.
Core Tip: Intramural gastric nodules are rare, but all differential diagnoses must always be considered. If feasible, a preoperative fine needle aspiration can help the surgeon in selecting the best treatment option. Splenosis is uncommon in the general population, but it must be considered in each patient with a history of splenectomy (especially after trauma). In this specific cluster it is reasonable to insist on ruling out splenosis even making a second histologic sampling after a first failure.