Abstract

Squamous cell carcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas are rarely originated from the stomach, thus the limited and sporadic informations about their clinico-pathologic characteristics as well as histogenesis have been elucidated. Six cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma (3 cases) and adenosquamous carcinoma(3 cases) in the stomach were examined during a period of 4 years from 1981 to 1984. After pertinent review of both clinical data and morphology through extended histotopographic study performed on 4 cases, their clinicopathologic characteristics were described. Male to female sex ratio was 4 : 2 and average age was 58.6 years. Clinical presentations or physical findings were not different from those of adenocarcinoma. Tumor masses of all cases were located in the body or phloric antrum. In all cases except for the early gastric carcinoma, each tumor was larger than 8 cm in long axis, and showed expansile and intraluminal endophytic growing tendencies with sharp margin. Simple Borrmann's macroscopic classification was applicable to none of 6 cases because of irregular and multicentric ulceration pattern and occasional submucosal growth which were reminiscent of those in submucosal tumors such as malignant lymphoma and leiomyosarcoma. Virtually four out of all six cases were diagnosed as submucosal tumor at the time of radiological examination. Microscopically three cases were composed of pure squamous cell carcinoma and remaining three contained both adeno and squamous components. Metastatic regional lymph nodes revealed only squamous element in case of pure squamous cell carcinoam, while both components were identified in adenosquamous carcinomas. Surrounding non-tumors mucosa exhibited moderate to severe degree of intestinal metaplasia accompanied by multifocal mucin pool formation. Growth pattern and surrounding mucosal changes as with older age prevalence of these tumors might express the biological behavior of intestinal type of gastric carcinoma.