An autopsy case of primary small cell gastric carcinoma and adenocarcinoma

A 62-year-old man was emergently admitted to our hospital because of disturbance of consciousness. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen showed pleural effusion, ascites, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed bleeding from an irregular ulcerative lesion in the lesser curvature of the middle portion of the gastric body, and exhibited the morphology of Borrman type 4 gastric cancer. The patient died on the seventh hospital day. At autopsy, a diagnosis of primary small cell gastric carcinoma associated with adenocarcinoma was made. Primary small cell gastric carcinoma and its coexistence with adenocarcinoma, as in this case, is rare.