Carcinosarcoma of the stomach: A rare tumor for an unusual localization. Review of the literature

Carcinosarcoma of the stomach is an extremely rare, biphasic, malignant mixed tumor most often having an unclear etiology and pathogenesis (1). It typically occurs in the uterus, breast, thyroid and lung (1). The clinical presentation is often challenging to identify. The definitive diagnosis is based on immuno-histochemical analysis of endoscopic biopsy or surgical samples but mainly depends on the knowledge and consideration that this tumor can arise at this unusual site. A 69-year-old Caucasian woman presented at the emergency room with melena and severe anemia (Hemoglobin level = 6.2 g/dL). She was immediately transfused. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy identified a bleeding polypoid lesion in the posterior wall of the great gastric curvature (Figure 1a). A biopsy was performed and the histological examination revealed a vimentin-positive spindle cell malignant tumor with necrosis and severe nuclear pleomorphism.