Computed Tomographic Features of Adenocarcinoma Compared to Malignant Lymphoma of the Stomach
Nittaya Chamadol MD*, Jitraporn Wongwiwatchai MD*, Tharinee Wachirakowit MD*, Chawalit Pairojkul MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : To compare the CT findings of adenocarcinoma and malignant lymphoma of the stomach.
Material and Method: The authors retrospectively reviewed the computed tomographic images of 21 patients who received
a definite pathologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma or malignant lymphoma of the stomach. The images were taken at
Srinagarind Hospital between January 2006 and February 2009. Seventeen patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and four
with malignant gastric lymphoma were included in the present study. The pattern of involvement, the location of lesion, the
perigastric fat plane, the perigastric lymphadenopathy and the extension of disease on CT images were evaluated and
analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher exact tests.
Results : There was a statistically significant difference between gastric adenocarcinoma and malignant gastric lymphoma in
the pattern of involvement of disease (p = 0.010), the perigastric fat plane (p = 0.002) and the location of disease (p = 0.008).
By contrast, there was no respective statistically significant difference in the perigastric lymphadenopathy (p = 0.950) and the
extension of disease (p = 0.175) in between gastric adenocarcinoma and malignant gastric lymphoma.
Conclusion : The CT findings helpful for differentiating gastric adenocarcinoma from malignant gastric lymphoma are the
pattern of involvement, the perigastric fat plane, and the location of lesion. Localized involvement of the lesion, abnormal
perigastric fat plane and location involving one region of the stomach tend to indicate gastric adenocarcinoma; while diffused
involvement of the lesion, preserved perigastric fat plane and location involving more than one region of the stomach tend
to indicate malignant gastric lymphoma.
Keywords : Computed tomography, Stomach, Adenocarcinoma, Lymphoma
