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| gmaher
- Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:02 pm |
Hi,
My father has been recently diagnosed with a gastric cancer - Linits Plastica. My family has been struggling to find people with an expertice in this area or even someone that has seen this type of gastric cancer. If anyone can supply information [some mention of their experience, what to expect, or even a good website] regarding linitis plastica it would be greatly appreciated.
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| Dr. Tamer Fouad
- Tue Feb 01, 2005 12:50 am |
 Hello,
My name is Dr. Tamer Fouad. I am a medical oncologist and I have treated gastric cancer patients but not specifically those with linitis plastica.
Let me try to explain a bit about this diagnosis:
Adenocarcinoma of the stomach is the most common type of cancer of the stomach. It is classified according to microscopic criteria. Classification is based on the most unfavorable microscopic element present, which are, in order of increasing danger, tubular, papillary, mucinous, or signet-ring cells, and undifferentiated lesions.
Pathology specimens also are classified by gross appearance (non-microscopic outer appearance). In general, researchers consider gastric cancers ulcerative, polypoid, scirrhous (ie, diffuse linitis plastica), superficial spreading, multicentric, or Barrett ectopic adenocarcinoma.
Scirrhous carcinoma (linitis plastica) is a poorly differentiated mixture of mucin-producing carcinoma cells that infiltrates the muscle wall and turns it into rigid, leatherlike scar tissue that cannot stretch or move during the normal digestive process (peristalsis).
Researchers also employ a variety of other classification schemes.
The Borrmann system has 5 categories: type I tumors are polypoid or fungating; type II are ulcerating lesions surrounded by elevated borders; type III have ulceration with invasion of the gastric wall; type IV are diffusely infiltrating (ie, linitis plastica); and type V cannot be classified.
Another classification system, the Lauren system, classifies gastric cancer pathology as either an epidemic form or an endemic form. An appealing feature of classifying patients according to the Lauren system is that the descriptive pathologic entities have clinically relevant differences. The intestinal, expansive, epidemic-type gastric cancer is associated with chronic atrophic gastritis, retained glandular structure, little invasiveness, and a sharp margin. This type also is classified as Borrmann I or II.
The pathologic presentation classified as epidemic by the Lauren system or Borrmann I or II is associated with most environmental risk factors, carries a better prognosis, and shows no familial history.
From the pathological classifications it becomes apparent that linitis plastica carries a worse prognosis than some of the more common subtypes. That said however the most important prognostic factor would resectability, if the cancer is still at the stage when it can be removed surgically this carries the best prognosis. If however, it can't be removed then the options for chemotherapy are rather limited. Depending on his performance and the details of his case chemotherapy may be of use.
I would like to refer you to this forum for posts related to linitis plastica. Click here!.
Best of luck!
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| dataBoy
- Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:39 am |
gmaher wrote:Hi,
My father has been recently diagnosed with a gastric cancer - Linits Plastica. My family has been struggling to find people with an expertice in this area or even someone that has seen this type of gastric cancer. If anyone can supply information [some mention of their experience, what to expect, or even a good website] regarding linitis plastica it would be greatly appreciated.
I'm sorryto hear that How old is he?
I was diagnosed with Linits Plastica in April at age 54. I went for help when I was experienceing troubke swollowing.
I am being treated at Memorial Slaon Kettering in New York. Both my surgeon, Dr Jacqus and Oncologist, Dr Ilson have seen and treated Linits Plastica before. Mine is in the top of the stomac and extends into the esophigas. I am getting Chemo now, possable gastrectomy to follow. I think the fact that it goes slighly above the EG joint makes it tuffer to opperate
While gastric cancer is the no 2 killer world wide there were only about 22K-24K cases of it in the US last year, some number like that, Linits Plastica is the rarest form of the cancer
I've had endoscopy, endoscoy with ultra sound, CAT san, PET scan and a laporoscopy hasn't perforated my stomach and my liver seems OK.. I hav another endoscopy next week.
Try and find a surgeon that has operated on this and knows how to deal with it. You can try contacting MSKCC and maybe they can give you a referal to someone in your area
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| dataBoy
- Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:54 pm |
just wantd to follow up and say that after 9 months of chemo ( iriditecan (sp?) and Cisplatin) a complete resection of my stomach along with abouot 4 inches of esophogas, 6 weeks of intraparateneal chemo and 4 weeks of radiation I am now cancer free
Take heart you all. You can beat it!!!
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