Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach

Gastric cancer ranks as the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong according to the Hong Kong Cancer Registry. The major histopathology of gastric cancer is adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach is an extremely rare entity. Only 85 cases of primary gastric squamous cell carcinoma worldwide have been reported in the literature. Diagnostic criteria have been set to differentiate from adenosquamous gastric carcinoma. The origin of this malignancy is not yet certain although there have been proposed theories as to its pathogenesis. It is difficult to clearly define its prognosis. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy to long-term survival still cannot be justified. We present probably the first reported case of pure primary squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach in Hong Kong in a 70-year-old man who underwent a distal radical gastrectomy in our department.