Linitis Plastica in a Patient With Previous Breast Cancer: Primary Gastric Cancer or Breast Cancer Metastases?

Background

Linitis plastica is a challenging diagnosis in the setting of a patient with previous breast cancer.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 74-year-old Chinese Female with a history of breast cancer who presented with epigastric pain, nausea, early satiety, and weight loss of 5 kg in 3 months. Endoscopic diagnosis of linitis plastica was made, but subsequent management plans were dependent on accurate histological assessment in view of her oncological history.

Discussion and conclusion

Our case highlights the clinical conundrum confronting the endoscopist in evaluating suspected linitis plastica where the imaging, endoscopic, and macroscopic histological findings between primary gastric adenocarcinoma and metastatic breast cancer can be indistinguishable. Optimal deep tissue acquisition is required to differentiate the true diagnosis in such cases.