A case report of curative distal gastrectomy for stage IV gastric cancer after chemoradiotherapy in a patient with a gastrojejunal gastric bypass

BACKGROUND: Advanced gastric cancer in the lower third of the stomach often results in stricture of the gastric cavity and digestive symptoms. Gastrojejunostomy has been suggested to improve such symptoms, and the advent of new anticancer agents for gastric cancer has improved the response rate of the disease, which makes it possible to perform R0 gastrectomy in part of patients with stage IV gastric cancer. We experienced a rare case in which a patient with stage IV gastric cancer and cancerous pyloric stenosis was treated with R0 surgery after undergoing a gastrojejunal bypass procedure and multidisciplinary treatment. There have not been any previous reports about cases in which a previous gastrojejunostomy was utilized as a reconstruction route during distal gastrectomy in a patient with gastric cancer that had been treated with chemotherapy and/or CRT. CASE PRESENTATION: An 80-year-old female with advanced gastric cancer and pyloric stenosis was admitted to Kagoshima University Hospital. As peritoneal washing cytology produced a positive result, laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy (modified Devine procedure) was performed to improve food passage, and S-1 (100 mg/body, days 1–14) plus paclitaxel (120 mg/body, days 1 and 15) was administered. Although the tumor was temporarily reduced in size, an abdominal computed tomography scan obtained after four courses of chemotherapy showed progressive disease. Thus, chemoradiotherapy (56 Gy, S-1: 60 mg/body, CDDP: 5 mg/body, days 1–5) was indicated. Marked tumor shrinkage and negative peritoneal washing cytological results were achieved. Curative gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy was performed. We carried out distal gastrectomy and lymph node dissection, and the gastrojejunostomy produced as a gastric bypass in the previous operation was preserved. The patient has not suffered a tumor relapse in 4 years since the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We surgeons increase a chance to perform R0 gastrectomy for stage IV gastric cancer following intensive chemotherapy and/or CRT. We should choose proper position of gastrojejunostomy in producing alimentary bypass for stage IV gastric cancer patients to facilitate curative surgery.