Elevation of tumor markers as a diagnostic clue in two cases of symptomless late recurrence after resection of gastric cancer

We present two cases of late recurrence after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Both patients had medical examinations regularly and had no symptom of recurrence and serum tumor markers remained normal after surgery. 7 and 8 years after resection of gastric cancer, serum tumor marker levels elevated and cancer recurrence was confirmed by lymph node swelling by CT and PET study. Case 1 was a 69-year-old woman. 7 years after distal gastrectomy, CA 19-9 elevated and late recurrence of gastric carcinoma was diagnosed. Case 2 was a 63-year-old woman, 8 years after total gastrectomy, CEA elevated and late recurrence of gastric carcinoma was diagnosed. Late recurrence more than 5 years after resection of gastric cancer is not rare, and periodic examination of tumor markers would be helpful to diagnose recurrence before it becomes symptomatic.