CLINICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND PROGNOSIS OF HARD-TO-DIAGNOSE FORMS OF STOMACH CANCER

Uncommon and hostile, difficult-to-diagnose stomach cancers can elude early detection due to atypical morphological patterns and generalized symptoms. In this paper, we analyze the clinical and pathological manifestations of such subtypes, i.e. hepatoid adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), signet-ring cell carcinoma, and linitis plastica. The prognosis is worse and therapy is more challenging if one detects these malignancies at a late stage. Due to their morphological features (diffuse infiltration, lack of differentiation or mimicking of other neoplasms), more refined diagnostic techniques, such as molecular profile and immunohistochemistry, are necessary. Clinically, patients often present with metastasis and rapid progression. The uniformly bad prognosis underscores the necessity for improved methods of diagnosis and individualized treatment. Increased awareness and the improvement of accurate diagnosis will be the first steps in the better management and improved outcome of such patients with these challenging subtypes of gastric cancer.