[Multicentric gastric carcinoid in autoimmune gastritis].

HISTORY AND FINDINGS

A now 54-year-old woman was 32 years ago found to have immune thrombocytopenia and 3 years ago ANA-positive and HBsAg-negative hepatitis with cirrhotic metaplasia. Numerous small asymptomatic carcinoids with marked hypergastrinaemia (1626 ng/l) were also first found 3 years ago. No gastrinoma could be found. Severe arthralgia was the main symptom on admission.

INVESTIGATIONS

Gastroscopy revealed a polypoid carcinoid, 1 cm in diameter. There was total achlorhydria. No pernicious anaemia or carcinoid syndrome was found.

TREATMENT AND COURSE

Total gastrectomy with construction of a jejunal substitute stomach was performed. Histology showed typical chronic-atrophic gastritis type A, all stages of an argyrophilic endocrine cell hyperplasia, as well as microcarcinoidosis and multicentric carcinoid, in part with submucosal infiltration and lymph node metastases. Immunohistology revealed immune reaction for the global endocrine marker. No specific hormones were demonstrable in the carcinoid cells. The postoperative course was without complications. Serum gastrin levels have since been normal.

CONCLUSIONS

The case confirms the possibility of an achlorhydria-hypergastrinaemia-carcinoid sequence. Now new stage-related therapeutic guidelines for this disease are needed.