Abstract
Linitis plastica of the stomach was diagnosed in four patients. Endoscopic ultrasonography
(EUS) was performed in four cases; they were monitored by EUS and had their treatment
adapted accordingly. According to the present study, the typical criteria of gastric
linitis at EUS are: (a) rigidity of the gastric wall; (b) a wall thickness exceeding
6 mm; (c) a second enlarged layer marginally more echogenic than the fourth hypoechogenic
layer (muscularis propria); (d) a third hyperechogenic enlarged layer; and (e) a poor
demarcation between layers. Gastric linitis appears more likely to be specific metastasis
from lobular breast carcinoma. In most of the follow-up cases, EUS showed correlation
with a subsequent decrease of the CA 15.3 level. At present, EUS seems to be the most
effective and least invasive examination for clinical diagnosis and treatment surveillance
of secondary gastric linitis arising from infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) of
the breast.
