Gastric leiomyoma is a pathological process in which the formation of a benign tumor occurs, most often from smooth muscle. It should be noted that this type of formation can develop in other systems of the body, where the muscles are the same in structure as the stomach. These include the esophagus, small and large intestines. But this form of pathology is extremely rare.

This disease does not have clear gender and age restrictions; however, gastric leiomyoma occurs more often in men than in women. The clinical picture does not appear until the pathological process causes the development of other disorders. Therefore, the symptoms in this case will be nonspecific.

For diagnosis, several instrumental methods are used, and the data that was collected during the initial examination is also taken into account.

Treatment in this case is only surgical - the tumor should be removed. Maintenance conservative therapy is used only in cases where surgery is impossible due to individual indicators. Therapy with folk remedies is unacceptable.

The prognosis is entirely individual, since everything will depend on the form of the pathological process, the timeliness of starting therapy, as well as the general health of the patient. There is no specific prevention.

Etiology

Today, it is not possible to determine exactly why such a pathology develops.

Clinicians identify the following predisposing factors:

• pathogenic microflora in the gastrointestinal tract;
• hormonal disorders;
• weakening of the immune system due to other pathological processes, including those related to systemic and autoimmune diseases;
• genetic predisposition to such pathologies;
• chronic gastroenterological diseases;
• frequent abdominal injuries;
• personal history of cancer;
• constant contact with chemicals, toxic substances, poisons, heavy metals;
• irradiation, undergoing radiation therapy;
• living in an extremely unfavorable ecological area;
• poor nutrition;
• alcohol abuse, nicotine addiction.

It should also be understood that gastric leiomyoma, although by its nature is not a malignant tumor, can degenerate into leiomyosarcoma, which is already a cancerous condition.

Classification

The tumor can grow in the following directions:

• subserous - towards the abdominal cavity;
• submucosal – inside the stomach cavity;
• intramural - inside the walls of the stomach.

An ulcer may appear on the surface of the tumor, and in the thickness of the tumor the tissues disintegrate, which leads to the formation of a certain cavity. Large tumors can close the lumen of the stomach, which makes it impossible for the food bolus to move into the stomach.

Symptoms

For a long time, gastric leiomyoma does not show any clinical signs, which leads to delayed diagnosis.

As the formation grows, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract will deteriorate, which provokes the appearance of the following clinical signs:

• night and “hungry” pain;
• , which increases after eating;
• like “coffee grounds”, which will indicate internal bleeding;
• problems with bowel movements - and diarrhea, stool will contain blood;
• , against the background of which body weight decreases, often leading to exhaustion;
• At the site of the tumor, sharp pain of a paroxysmal nature will appear;
• pale skin;
• weakness, increasing malaise, symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

In addition, the general clinical picture will be supplemented by specific signs, the nature of which will be determined by the complications developing against the background of the pathology.

It is necessary to understand that gastric leiomyoma does not have specific symptoms, and similar symptoms may be present even when the tumor has transformed into a malignant one.

Diagnostics

In this case, you will need to consult a gastroenterologist and oncologist. First of all, a physical examination of the patient is performed with palpation of the abdominal cavity. During this stage of the examination, the nature of the course of the clinical picture is determined, and personal and family history is collected.

Further diagnostics includes the following activities:

• X-ray examination of the stomach with double contrast;
• gastroduodenoscopy;
• multislice computed tomography;
• lateroscopy of the stomach;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.

Additionally, laboratory tests are prescribed:

• general and biochemical blood test;
• general urinalysis;
• general analysis of stool and occult blood.

Based on the diagnostic results, further therapeutic tactics will be determined.

Treatment

Conservative treatment is ineffective. If the patient is accurately diagnosed with gastric leiomyoma, then surgery is performed. Surgery will be postponed only if the patient has contraindications.

Small formations (2–3 cm) are eliminated without abdominal surgery - removal is carried out endoscopically. Tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter are removed by excision. If ulceration and malignancy occur, then gastric resection is performed.

Additionally, drug therapy is prescribed:

• antibiotics;
• proton pump inhibitors;
• probiotics;
• vitamin and mineral complexes;
• chemotherapy drugs if the tumor is malignant.

The prognosis, if the tumor is benign and was removed in a timely manner, is positive. In all other cases, the outcome of therapy will depend on the clinical and morphological picture of the pathological process itself, as well as on associated complications.

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Esophageal diverticula are a pathological process that is characterized by deformation of the esophageal wall and protrusion of all its layers in the form of a pouch towards the mediastinum. In the medical literature, esophageal diverticulum also has another name - esophageal diverticulum. In gastroenterology, this particular localization of saccular protrusion accounts for about forty percent of cases. Most often, the pathology is diagnosed in males who have crossed the fifty-year mark. But it is also worth noting that usually such individuals have one or more predisposing factors - gastric ulcer, cholecystitis and others. ICD 10 code – acquired type K22.5, esophageal diverticulum – Q39.6.

Achalasia cardia is a chronic disorder of the esophagus, which is characterized by impaired swallowing. At this moment, relaxation of the lower sphincter is observed. As a result of such a disorder, food particles accumulate directly in the esophagus, causing an expansion of the upper parts of this organ. This disorder is quite common. It affects both sexes almost equally. In addition, cases of detection of the disease in children have been recorded. In the international classification of diseases - ICD 10, this pathology has its own code - K 22.0.

Gastric leiomyoma is a benign neoplasm that affects the smooth muscle layer of the organ. It has erased symptoms and is mistaken for other stomach diseases. It manifests itself as sudden bleeding, perforation and peritonitis. The disease occurs in people over 50 years of age. Women are more often susceptible to pathology.

It is rarely diagnosed due to the slow development of the tumor. It is found during surgical interventions for other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The size of the node can reach up to 5 cm. A benign process is characterized by one or more smooth, clearly defined neoplasms. Usually the node grows into the walls of the stomach. Cases have been recorded when the node reached a huge size.

The neoplasm in the stomach does not disrupt the functioning of neighboring organs, does not interfere with the digestion process, and is not dangerous to human life due to its small size. Treatable.

A developed tumor causes serious problems. It can degenerate into a malignant formation - leukosarcoma. The tissues of the affected area are more favorable for the development of atypical cells than healthy ones. The disease has an ICD-10 code D13.1 as “Benign neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs.”

The exact reasons that provoke the growth of tumors have not been established. Factors influencing the occurrence of pathology are named:

• People whose close relatives have this pathology are susceptible to leiomyoma.
• Living in an unfavorable ecological place.
• Working with electromagnetic and ultraviolet radiation.
• Radioactive exposure.
• HIV and AIDS.
• Hormonal imbalances.
• Inflammatory processes, violation of the integrity of the gastric mucosa.
• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Smoking.
• Nervous breakdowns, depression.
• Indiscriminate intake of unhealthy foods (fatty, fried, fast food, carbonated drinks).

The genesis of the tumor is non-epithelial. It begins to form through the division of cells that create the smooth muscles of the organ. When a cell grows randomly, it combines with others and a tumor is created. Leiomyoma appears as one smooth node. It can grow and take on multiple forms. It usually affects the walls of the antrum (the back wall of the stomach).

Muscle fiber can form a new growth over many years. Depending on the location in the stomach, leiomyoma can be:

• Subserous. Located in the abdominal cavity.
• The intramural node occurs in the walls of the organ.
• The submucosal node grows into the gastric cavity. The submucosa of the organ suffers.

Having reached a large size, the node becomes covered with ulcers, and the muscle on which the formation is localized is damaged. The digestive system loses its ability to function normally, the muscles of the gastric sphincter are affected and food access to the duodenum is opened. Symptoms of disorders prompt the patient to seek medical help.

Clinical picture of the pathology

Symptoms develop along with the growth of the tumor. Small tumors (up to 2 cm) do not cause any discomfort. Tumors larger than 5 cm manifest themselves and require immediate treatment.

When the nodes are ulcerated, the patient suffers from symptoms:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting with blood, resembling coffee grounds.
• Black feces.
• Heartburn.
• Stomach pain. At first it manifests itself as pulling and aching. Gradually, the intensity of the pain syndrome increases.
• At night the patient feels pain as if he were very hungry.

If bleeding is systematic, iron deficiency anemia occurs. In this case, the patient loses weight, the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases, pale skin, dizziness, lethargy, and unreasonable fatigue are observed. Due to the tumor, the stomach stops absorbing useful elements from food.

When leiomyoma is located in the abdominal cavity, there is a risk of twisting of the base (leg) of the tumor. The node dies, decomposes and provokes the symptom of “acute abdomen”.

When the stomach wall is perforated and its contents enter the sterile abdominal cavity, peritonitis develops. The patient notes severe pain, a sharp increase in temperature and vomiting. The condition requires immediate surgical intervention, during which the presence of a tumor is confirmed.

There have been cases where the tumor reached 7 kg. The patient could independently diagnose the presence of a tumor.

While the tumor is benign, its development takes a long time. When the neoplasm turns into a tumor of malignant cells, the growth of the node progresses rapidly. The symptomatic picture changes, symptoms of intoxication and exhaustion of the body are added.

Diagnostic tests to identify the disease

Due to the absence of symptoms, a person does not undergo proper diagnosis in a timely manner. The tumor is detected during studies of concomitant diseases. To determine pathological processes in the abdominal organs, in particular the stomach, instrumental methods are used:

• Ultrasound diagnostics is effective for detecting subserous nodes.
• An X-ray of the stomach with the introduction of a contrast agent, barium, is called gastrography. This method diagnoses many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. With its help, ulcers, tumors and cancerous pathologies of the organ are identified. Diagnosis in this way is prohibited for acute abdomen, intestinal obstruction and perforation of the intestinal wall.
• Laterography. Unlike conventional radiography, the patient is placed on his side because the radiation is directed horizontally. This type of study provides an opportunity to carefully examine organ defects.
• Multislice CT. The study clarifies the results of ultrasound examination, identifies neoplasms in the abdominal cavity, and inflammatory pathologies. Diagnoses the condition of the vessels and their connection with the tumor, and details the surgical plan.
• Esophagoduodenoscopy is a sounding procedure during which a video camera with a lamp is inserted through the mouth. If an oncological process is suspected, a tumor biopsy is performed using this procedure. During the procedure, the patient is conscious and local anesthesia is used.
• Laparoscopic examination. The principle is similar to an operation: a puncture is made in the abdominal wall, a laparoscope is inserted into the hole, at the end of which a camera and a light bulb are attached. The scaled image is displayed on the monitor and the tumor is assessed. The procedure allows for the collection of biomaterial for histological examination.

To clarify the general condition of a person, the doctor prescribes laboratory tests of blood and urine. A high ESR is a prerequisite for cancer.

Treatment tactics

Treatment begins with an examination by a therapist. It excludes other diseases that have the same symptoms as leiomyoma. The patient is then diagnosed by a gastroenterologist and oncologist. If the oncologist denies the development of a malignant process, the gastroenterologist begins to treat the underlying disease.

Drug therapy is usually not effective, so surgery cannot be avoided. Removal of leiomyomas is possible in several ways. The category of complexity of the disease influences the decision-making.

1. Enucleation is acceptable for small tumors. The lumen of the stomach is not opened. The tumor is removed by freezing.
2. Open tumor resection (from 3 cm) with organ opening. During abdominal surgery, the node and healthy tissue are excised 2 cm around. There are contraindications to the operation: heart disease, vascular disease, various forms of tuberculosis, diabetes, pathologies that do not allow the use of anesthesia.
3. Laparoscopic surgery in which tumors are removed through punctures. The advantage is rapid post-operative recovery.

Actions are aimed at getting rid of the tumor as quickly as possible to prevent progressive bleeding, organ perforation and peritonitis. The prognosis after surgical treatment is favorable if the absence of a malignant process is confirmed.

After removal of a benign tumor, the patient must adhere to a strict diet and take prescribed medications. Proton pump inhibitors suppress the production of hydrochloric acid to speed up tissue healing, and antibiotics prevent the development of inflammatory processes. If pathogenic bacteria are found in the stomach, drugs are prescribed to destroy them.

Fatty, fried, spicy, sour and pickled foods, coffee, tea, alcoholic drinks, fatty meats, and mushrooms are prohibited. Dishes should not be hot or cold. It is forbidden to eat solid food, which takes a long time to digest, and food that provokes fermentation.

For this pathology, porridge, poultry and fish (exclusively boiled or baked) are useful. Vegetables and fruits must be heat treated so as not to irritate the stomach. Herbal decoctions, for example, chamomile, are useful for recovery. It has healing and antiseptic properties.

Treatment with folk remedies is ineffective for leiomyoma. By listening to the advice of acquaintances who are not related to medicine, or by reading dubious articles on the Internet, the patient gives the tumor time to develop to a large size and bring many problems to the body! Only the recommendations and prescriptions of a doctor can save a person from a dangerous disease.

When cancer cells are detected in a stomach tumor, treatment tactics change. If the tumor is operable, its body is removed. In advanced cases - the entire organ. The patient then undergoes a course of individually selected chemotherapy and radiation. The life expectancy is about 50%. Typically the patient lives up to 5 years.

Mandatory annual examinations by all specialists, tests and ultrasound diagnostics will help you avoid serious consequences. If you experience pain in the abdominal area, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor. Only qualified help and well-chosen treatment will protect a person from health problems.

Gastric leiomyoma develops in the structure of smooth muscles and is formed from muscle tissue cells. The size of the tumor can reach 4.5-5 cm. The tumor has clear outlines and is clearly demarcated from other tissues. As a rule, the pathology develops asymptomatically and proceeds for a long time in the latent phase. Some patients are not even aware of the formation of a tumor for many years.

As leiomyoma grows, patients experience systematic pain, and bleeding is observed in the stomach cavity. Often the disease is detected by chance when the body is examined for other conditions. The progression of the disease and the increase in symptoms is a direct reason for surgical intervention to completely excision the pathological growth. What is it - gastric leiomyoma?

Anatomy of the stomach and localization of leiomyoma

Nature of the pathology

Leiomyoma is a benign pathological neoplasm in the gastrointestinal tract. Based on the type of tissue, clinicians distinguish all forms of precancerous formations, for example, hemangioma (vascular tumors), fibroma (formation in connective tissue), adenoma (tumor of glandular structures), neuroma (formation on the nerve plexuses). Leiomyoma grows from muscle tissue, namely from smooth muscle cells. Leiomyoma of the body of the stomach also manifests itself in other muscle structures, for example, in the uterine cavity, esophagus, and colon.

The etiological factors of the pathology have not been fully studied. Benign tumors such as leiomyoma rarely develop rapidly and do not put pressure on adjacent organs for a long time. Lack of treatment for benign tumors often leads to the degeneration of the tumor into a malignant process. Anatomically, there are two main tumor locations:

• antrum (entrance segment);
• pyloric region (exit from the stomach cavity).

The localization of the tumor is often found in the upper parts of the stomach cavity, which is closely connected with the esophagus. Damage to the exit tract is much less common. The risk group consists of sexually mature and elderly people. Rare clinical cases are observed in childhood. Tumors can be single or multiple, but they all have a smooth, smooth surface and clear outlines. Leiomyoma can grow inside the stomach, but there are cases of growth in the opposite direction.

Important! Treatment of leiomyoma of the gastric antrum is much less likely to provoke the development of complications due to anatomical features. A feature of all benign formations is a tendency to malignancy. With timely diagnosis and measures taken, it is possible to increase the chances of improving the patient’s quality of life and slow down the development of pathological growth.

Etiological factors

The nature of the occurrence of pathogenic tumors in the stomach has not yet been fully studied, but there are a number of provoking factors that contribute to the development of the tumor:

• living environment (unfavorable ecology);
• various irradiations;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• untreated inflammation;
• addiction to alcohol, drugs, tobacco;
• hereditary factors;
• prolonged stress;
• poor nutrition, lack of routine;
• trauma to the gastric cavity (for example, surgical interventions);
• autoimmune factors.

Endoscopic examination of the gastric cavity

The submucosal formation of the body of the stomach is a benign process, but as it grows, it can penetrate into the stomach cavity (subucous growth), into the peritoneal cavity (subserous growth), into the inside of the stomach (intramural growth). Leiomyoma occurs when many biophysical mechanisms in the patient’s body are activated, which may not manifest itself for a long time.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of gastric leiomyoma in the early stages appear quite rarely, but as they develop, an increase in clinical symptoms occurs. For gastroenterologists, a frequent difficulty in primary diagnosis is the similarity of some symptoms with manifestations of benign formations. This is especially true for patients with complicated gastroenterological diseases. Clinical manifestations develop in proportion to the location of the tumor and have similar features:

• night “hungry” pain;
• systematic nausea;
• vomit like thick coffee grounds;
• abnormal stool (color of stool, but black);
• development of anemia:
• sharp pain in the pelvic area;
• pale skin;
• weakness, fatigue, decreased immunity.

Important! Each patient has a different severity of symptoms. Some cannot even clearly determine the degree of discomfort. Typically, the diagnosis is made at the stage of development of the disease, since the growths interfere with adjacent organs.

Signs of degeneration

Against the background of the development of leiomyoma, its malignant degeneration occurs - leiomyosarcoma. The main symptoms of a malignant tumor:

• acute pain in the epigastric area;
• internal bleeding;
• the presence of blood in the stool, during vomiting;
• a sharp decrease in body weight;
• enlargement of the abdomen due to weight loss (ascites type).

Despite the vagueness of the first signs of the disease, they can still be identified if you pay close attention to your own health. Any violation of the usual state should be monitored by a specialized specialist.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of tumors in the stomach area involves an objective assessment of the patient’s condition by appearance and palpation, conducting a histological examination and passing all the necessary tests. Due to the absence of obvious symptoms at an early stage, many patients vaguely explain the unpleasant sensations and are confused about the location of episodic pain. In the later stages of pathology, the patient’s complaints significantly reveal the clinical picture and allow specialists to prescribe the most accurate type of diagnosis.

Laboratory methods

Data from laboratory tests make it possible to assess the biochemical state of the patient’s blood, exclude inflammatory factors (shift of the leukocyte formula to the left), and identify possible pathologies provoking the tumor. In addition to the blood test, a biochemical urine test and a coprogram are taken. Any change in habitual or normal indicators indicates a violation of the patient’s health status.

Instrumental methods

An important aspect of differential diagnosis is the study of the patient’s gastric cavity on photographs and screens of medical equipment. Among the informative methods there are:

• ultrasound of the abdominal organs (the procedure involves visualization of the gastric cavity, the relationship of other organs to it, as well as their structural features);
• X-ray (a contrast agent is used, which, in pathological conditions, outlines any defects in the organ);
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging allows layer-by-layer assessment of the stomach cavity in various projections);
• CT (computed tomography is performed using X-rays, produces three-dimensional images, helps determine the localization of the pathological formation).
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (examination of the stomach cavity using an endoscopic method, followed by detachment of altered tissue for examination, allows one to determine the exact size of the leiomyoma and its localization).
• Biopsy (tissue collection for histological and cytological examination, recommended for making a final diagnosis).
• Laparoscopy (examination using a laparoscope with its insertion through several incisions in the abdominal cavity).

Diagnostics with an endoscope under anesthesia

Important! Some instrumental research methods require the administration of local or general anesthesia, therefore, in case of a burdened clinical history (for example, with rapidly developing chronic renal failure), the decision is made collectively with specialists in the field. Typically, diagnosing leiomyoma does not present any difficulties and is carried out as prescribed.

Treatment tactics

Treatment of leiomyoma involves only surgery. When leiomyoma manifests in a patient, it is important to quickly perform surgery to excise the tumor within healthy tissue. Starting treatment for esophageal leiomyoma with folk remedies and only them is contraindicated. This can be dangerous not only for the health, but also for the life of the patient. There is no alternative treatment, and even more so, grandmother’s and folk methods against leiomyoma. The lack of adequate treatment can provoke bleeding, rupture of nodes and walls of the stomach, cause peritonitis and other serious consequences. There are two tactics of surgical intervention for different developments of leiomyoma:

• uncomplicated (excision of the tumor is carried out within the unchanged tissue);
• complicated (removal of part of the stomach along with the tumor).

To determine the extent of the operation, a consultation with an endoscopist may be required. Removal of the tumor can be delayed as much as possible in the presence of severe conditions from the cardiovascular system, end-stage renal or liver failure, during the active phase of tuberculosis and other pathologies. Treatment of gastric leiomyoma is carried out if the potential risk to life outweighs the risk of exacerbation of existing ailments.

Carrying out the operation

Important! Many patients may remain patients in the gastroenterology department for a long time due to other pathologies. After leiomyoma is diagnosed, patients are transferred to surgery for further treatment. In the absence of life-threatening contraindications, radical excision of the defective tissue is performed.

Prevention and prognosis

Surgery to solve the problem of leiomyoma is the only adequate treatment. Survival and absence of complications depend on the degree of tumor growth and its timely detection. Usually, removing a tumor at an early stage increases the patient's chances of a complete recovery. Removal of a tumor with pronounced growth, as well as with malignancy, has a disappointing prognosis. The prognosis of gastric leiomyoma with late diagnosis is a five-year survival rate of about 30%.

It is customary to classify as benign tumors that are very different in histogenesis (epithelial, connective tissue, nervous, muscle), but have prognostically favorable properties. They grow slowly and do not metastasize.

However, benignity is a relative concept, since under certain conditions many benign stomach tumors can cause serious complications or even pose a threat to life.

Benign tumors of the stomach include fibroids, fibromas, neurilemmomas, hemangiomas, chemodectomas, carcinoids and polyps. The listed benign tumors account for 1 to 4% of all gastric tumors. Benign tumors are usually located in the submucosal, muscular or subserosal layer of the stomach. In most cases, they are an incidental finding either during surgery for suspected cancer or gastric lesions of unknown etiology, or at autopsy.

Clinic. Clinically, tumors usually appear when they reach large sizes, which causes a feeling of awkwardness, heaviness in the epigastric region, and sometimes mild pain. When located in the area of ​​the outlet of the stomach, large benign tumors can cause obstruction, and when they prolapse into the pyloric canal and duodenum, they can be strangulated and cause a picture of acute obstruction. Some of these tumors can ulcerate and become a source of bleeding. The most common benign tumor of the stomach is fibroids (up to 60%).

Myomas (leiomyomas, fibromyomas, rhabdomyomas) are usually located in the subserous or muscular layer and grow extraventricularly. When they reach a large size, they can be palpated in the form of a mobile, densely elastic consistency formation of a spherical or oval shape.

Diagnosis. X-rays reveal filling defects, but unlike those characteristic of cancer, they have smooth contours, more often preserved mucosa, and are mobile upon palpation. In some cases, fibroids become ulcerated; then, in the differential diagnosis, one should take into account the anamnesis, clinical data, X-ray data (ulceration with smooth contours) and gastroscopic examination.

Gastroscopically, it is relatively easy to distinguish benign submucosal tumors of the stomach from cancer. Tumors, as a rule, are spherical in shape, connected to the wall of the stomach with a wide base, with rare exceptions they are single. The mucous membrane covering the submucosal tumor is smooth, unchanged, and of normal color. Between the base of the tumor and the surrounding mucosa, short radial folds are formed in the form of “bridges” between them, and during a biopsy it is easy to notice that the mucosa is not fused to the tumor and moves freely under the pressure of the biopsy cable. A targeted biopsy in these cases is not decisive, since the absence of malignant cells in the obtained material does not exclude the presence of a malignant tumor.

Treatment benign tumors of the stomach surgically. Gastric resection brings a permanent cure.

Stomach polyp (syn.: adenoma, fibroadenoma)

- a benign tumor arising from the integumentary pitted epithelium of the mucosa.

It is believed that polyps can be either adenomatous or inflammatory-hyperplastic in origin. Granulation polyps are also distinguished, characterized by a well-developed stroma with abundant inflammatory infiltrates, covered with a thin layer of prismatic epithelial cells.

Microscopically, the polyp tissue is represented by glands of various sizes and shapes, separated by connective tissue layers. The glands are lined with prismatic cells; accumulation of mucoid secretion in the lumen of the glands can lead to the formation of cysts. Depending on the number of glands and stroma, glandular and fibrous polyps are distinguished.

More often, polyps are located in the pyloroantral region (70-80%), less often - in the body and very rarely - in the cardia.

Single and multiple polyps occur with equal frequency. They can vary greatly in appearance, size, and structure. Most often they are spherical, oval, less often papillary, ring-shaped, mushroom-shaped, on a stalk or a broad base. Sometimes many small, plaque-like plaques appear around a large polyp. Polyps are clearly demarcated from the mucous membrane, with a smooth or granulating surface, pink, orange or cherry color; their sizes vary from small to several centimeters in diameter.

Clinic. Gastric polyposis does not have a characteristic clinical picture and is often asymptomatic; the observed clinical manifestations are usually caused by concomitant diseases, less often by complications of polyps.

Flow Gastric polyposis can be different: without pronounced dynamics, complicated by bleeding or malignancy.

Anemia (usually iron deficiency) is a common companion to polyposis.

Data on the malignancy of polyps and its frequency are contradictory. It is generally accepted, however, that polyposis is a precancerous condition. It is believed that glandular polyps become malignant more often; The larger the polyp, the softer and wider its base, the more likely it is to become malignant.

Diagnosis. An objective examination of the patient and laboratory data do not play a significant role in the diagnosis of gastric polyps. In particular, normal levels of gastric acidity occur in more than 25% of patients with polyposis. The leading methods in the diagnosis of gastric polyps are x-ray and gastroscopic.

A radiological sign of polyposis is the presence of many different size round filling defects, occupying a significant part or all of the inner surface of the stomach. In some places, unchanged folds of the mucous membrane may remain. In cases where individual polyps reach large sizes, they create a defect in the body of the stomach with smooth contours. X-ray signs of malignancy include an increase in the size of the polyp, changes in its shape, loss of clarity of contours, infiltration of the stomach wall, but they are not absolute.

Endoscopic signs of malignancy of polyps: discoloration, infiltration of the base, uneven surface, bleeding are also relative. The greatest confidence in the diagnosis of a malignant polyp is provided by a morphological (histological, cytological) examination of targeted biopsies.

Treatment. Conservative treatment of patients with gastric polyposis practically does not differ in most cases from the treatment of patients with chronic gastritis with reduced secretory function. In these cases, dynamic (at least 1-2 times a year) observation using x-ray, gastroscopic examination with targeted biopsy is recommended. In recent years, electrocoagulation of gastric polyps using a gastroscope has been used. In the presence of multiple polyposis, broad-based polyps larger than 2 cm in size, surgical treatment is recommended.

Typically, this type of tumor grows slowly, as a rule, does not grow into surrounding tissues, but over time it can degenerate into a malignant formation. That is why a person with such a diagnosis must undergo examination every six months to monitor the growth of the tumor.

Main reasons

Unfortunately, the exact reasons leading to the occurrence of this neoplasm are unknown.

But there are factors that can provoke its appearance, namely:

• unfavorable environment;
• radiation;
• injuries;
• chronic diseases;
• activity of viruses, microbes and fungi;
• decrease in the body's defenses;
• hormonal imbalance.

Gastric leiomyoma can also occur due to poor diet and alcohol abuse, as these factors destroy the gastric mucosa.

In addition, a tumor may appear due to a hereditary predisposition to such diseases.

How to recognize the disease?

Most often, a benign tumor affects the antrum (entrance) part of the stomach; it is much less common in other parts of the organ. This disease mainly occurs in older people, but sometimes it can also be diagnosed in young people. There are both single and multiple tumors; they always have a smooth surface and clear boundaries.

Basically, this disease occurs in a latent form, that is, asymptomatic. Most often, gastric leiomyoma is discovered accidentally during examination of a patient with complaints of other diseases of the digestive system. In 15% of cases, gastric leiomyoma manifests itself with pronounced symptoms. This occurs because the tumor becomes covered with ulcers and begins to bleed.

In this case, the patient suffers from “hungry” pain, nausea, heartburn, vomiting, mixed with blood, colored brown. Black stools may also appear, which indicates bleeding in the digestive organs. In addition, the patient will complain of chronic fatigue, he will have low hemoglobin levels, pale skin and dizziness.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made using instrumental diagnostic methods, since it is not always possible to feel the tumor during examination due to its small size.

Usually done:

1. X-ray of the stomach.
2. Gastroscopy.
3. Biopsy.

Also, to clarify the diagnosis, a general blood test, coprogram and magnetic resonance imaging may be needed.

Based on all the studies, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis and rule out malignancy of the tumor.

How to treat?

Treatment depends on the size and location of the benign lesion. For example, if it is no more than 3 cm, then the neoplasm is removed using gastroendoscopy followed by cryosurgery.

If the tumor exceeds the size indicated above, but does not affect the functioning of the organ, then local excision is performed, that is, the affected area is removed. If the tumor is large, surgery with gastrectomy is performed.

If the tumor has degenerated into a malignant formation, then the patient is sent to an oncologist and he then chooses the method of treatment.

Treatment with traditional methods

Unfortunately, it is not possible to get rid of a benign tumor using traditional medicine recipes, but they can be used as a preventative measure or as part of a complex treatment. Before using herbs, you should always consult your doctor.

Below are a couple of antitumor recipes:

• To prepare a medicinal recipe, you need to take the following plants in equal proportions: periwinkle, calamus, tartar and mistletoe. Mix the mixture and prepare an infusion. It should be consumed before meals, 100 ml three times a day. Treatment should be carried out for a month, then a break is taken for 30 days, after which the course is resumed. You can do about 5 courses per year.
• Freshly squeezed potato juice has a good effect on the gastric mucosa. You need to drink 1/3 glass before meals. If you have low acidity, you can drink white cabbage juice.

Although gastric leiomyoma is asymptomatic, it is still a dangerous disease because it can develop into a malignant tumor. That is why people with this diagnosis should definitely be examined twice a year.

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