Unusual Case of Vomiting and Defecating Partially Digested Food

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2023

Publication Title

American Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

Introduction: Gastrocolic fistula is an abnormal communication between the stomach and transverse colon. They are caused by gastric ulcers and tumors, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, intraabdominal abscesses, carcinoid tumors, lymphoma, trauma, and iatrogenic factors, among other rare entities. We report a case of gastrocolic fistula secondary to invasive adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon. Case Description/Methods: A 50-year-old woman with history of gastroesophageal reflux disease and family history of colon cancer presented with alternating diarrhea and constipation, abdominal distension, and 36 kg unintentional weight loss for 1 year. She described her stools as containing undigested food and having thin, narrow, and black tarry stools immediately after each meal. She also vomited partially digested rotten and foul-smelling food. Physical examination disclosed tenderness in the epigastrium. Laboratory values showed elevated inflammatory markers and iron deficiency anemia. CT abdomen revealed thickening of transverse colon extending superiorly and encroaching the inferior wall of the antrum and a 1.1 cm connection between the stomach and colon (Figure 1). EGD exhibited 4 cm opening in distal part of lesser curvature of stomach with a 7-10 cm long fistula opening into the transverse colon, with fungating friable mass in the tract. Histopathology showed mucinous signet ring cell adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon with invasion into the mesentery and stomach and metastasis to 3 out of 24 lymph nodes. Patient underwent partial gastrectomy and transverse colectomy to be followed by chemotherapy. Discussion: Colon cancer typically presents with changes in bowel habits, anemia, and weight loss. Gastrocolic fistula due to colon cancer is an extremely rare occurrence with high mortality. It is characterized by a triad of diarrhea, feculent vomiting, and weight loss, and may also have abdominal pain, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia. The most sensitive test for detecting the fistula is a barium enema, which can demonstrate reverse flow from the colon to the stomach. However, endoscopy can also provide suggestive findings of fistula as seen in our patient. Treatment recommendation is en bloc resection with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Clinicians should consider this rare entity in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with atypical symptoms such as lienteric diarrhea and feculent vomiting

Volume

118

Issue

10S

First Page

S1709

Comments

American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting, October 20-25, 2023, Vancouver, Canada

Last Page

S1710

DOI

10.14309/01.ajg.0000959372.85316.b6

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