Leiomyosarcoma of stomach extending to gastroesophageal junction and distal esophagus as a rare cause of dysphagia: a case report

Introduction and importance:Gastric leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor among the primary gastric carcinomas. Among the different common presentations, dysphagia is an uncommon presentation of gastric leiomyosarcoma.Case presentation:A 29-year-old female presented with complaints of progressive dysphagia for 1 year associated with vomiting, significant weight loss, and anorexia for 6 months. On blood investigations, she had anemia, hypokalemia, prerenal acute kidney injury, and unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) were initially suggestive of carcinoma of stomach. Immunohistochemistry was diagnostic of leiomyosarcoma of stomach extending to the gastroesophageal junction and distal esophagus. She underwent total gastrectomy with distal esophagectomy with lateral segmentectomy of liver (nonanatomical) with Roux-en-Y esophago-jejunal anastomosis (end-to-side and retro-colic) through thoracoabdominal approach. After 6 weeks, she received four cycles of doxorubicin therapy. Follow-up at 18 months after surgery revealed no recurrence of malignancy.Clinical discussion:Leiomyosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor arising from stomach involves commonly gastric body followed by antrum and fundus. Imaging including CECT and tissue diagnosis including immunohistochemistry (positive for alpha-SMA, desmin, calponin, h-caldesmon, or smoothelin) have been mainstay for definitive diagnosis. The standard treatment for leiomyosarcoma of stomach is complete surgical resection of tumor because it has malignant potential and does not respond to targeted treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The type of surgery depends on the size and localization of the tumor.Conclusions:Early diagnosis with proper imaging, immunohistochemistry, and biopsy play important role in differentiating gastric leiomyosarcoma from gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment.