[Primary linitis plastica of the rectum and colon. Report of a case and review of the literature].

We report a new case of primary linitis plastica of the rectum in a 32-year-old man. The diagnosis was made two months after the onset of clinical symptoms. Computerized tomography was helpful in the evaluation of the locoregional extension of the tumour. Despite intensive therapy (i. e. surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) peritoneal carcinomatosis developed and death occurred fifteen months after diagnosis. As it has been emphasized in the literature which was reviewed extensively (less than eighty cases), this report confirms the very poor outcome of this disease.