Concomitant jejunal sarcomatoid carcinoma and gastric GIST in patient with polymyalgia rheumatica: A case report

Introduction: Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SCA) of the small bowel is an extremely rare tumor with only 21 cases reported in literature and GISTs are relatively rare gastrointestinal neoplasms.

Presentation of case: We report a case of an 85 year-old female admitted with intestinal obstruction in June 2010. She suffered from polymyalgia rheumatica and was under surveillance for a presumed gastric GIST. A laparotomy was performed with resection of the jejunal obstruction and complete excision of the gastric mass. Histology confirmed a gastric GIST and sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small bowel. The patient was discharged 21 days after the operation and died on the 88th post-operative day.

Discussion: Synchronous GISTs and other malignancies have been reported over the last years with increasing frequency. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small bowel is an aggressive neoplasm with poor survival rates and surgery is the cornerstones of treatment. Given its unpredictable clinical behaviour and concomitant association with other malignancies, GISTs require adequate surgical resection with careful, long-term follow-up.

Conclusion: This is the first case of concomitant gastric GIST with Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small bowel, and the first report of sarcomatoid small bowel carcinoma in association with polymyalgia rheumatica.