Linitis plastica, also known as Brinton's disease or leather bottle stomach, is a morphological variant of diffuse (or infiltrating) stomach cancer.
Causes of linitis plastica could be lye ingestion or metastatic infiltration of the stomach, particularly breast and lung carcinoma. [1] It is not associated with H. pylori infection or chronic gastritis. The risk factors are undefined, except for rare inherited mutations in E-cadherin, which are found in about 50% of diffuse-type gastric carcinomas. [1]
This cancer (and most other stomach cancers) is more common in Asian countries, particularly Japan.
[edit] Presentation
Endoscopic image of linitis plastica, a type of stomach cancer where the entire
stomach is invaded, leading to a leather bottle-like appearance with
blood coming out of it.
Diffuse stomach cancer is characterized by the presence of poorly differentiated tumor cells.
The appearance of the stomach is like a "leather bottle"..[2] It is characterized by a thick, rigid stomach wall caused by diffuse infiltration of tumor cells and extensive fibrosis.
Diarrhea may be a presenting symptom.
[edit] Notable cases
Napoleon Bonaparte and many members of his family are thought to have died from this type of cancer, although it is believed by others that he may have died from arsenic poisoning.[3]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
