A Case of Gastrocolic Fistula by Primary Colon Cancer.

, Yoon, Ho Young; , Kim, Byung Chun; , Sohn, Tae Kyung; , Cho, Ji Woong; , Chung, Bong Wha; , Chung, Kyung Suk; , Lee, Myung Seok; , Yoo, Chong Woo; , Ahn, Hye Kyung

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Coloproctology 2004;20(6):415-419.

Yoon, Ho Young , Kim, Byung Chun , Sohn, Tae Kyung , Cho, Ji Woong , Chung, Bong Wha , Chung, Kyung Suk , Lee, Myung Seok , Yoo, Chong Woo , Ahn, Hye Kyung

¹Departments of Surgery, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea. bckimgs@empal.com
²Departments of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.
³Departments of Diagnostic pathology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

A gastrocolic fistula is a fistulous communication between a segment of colon and the stomach. It is a rare complication and is caused most commonly by a carcinoma of the colon or the stomach. Among the less common causes of a gastrocolic fistula are a benign gastric ulcer, chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, a carcinoid tumor, syphillis, an intraabdominal abscess, a lymphoma, trauma, intestinal tuberculosis, and iatrogenic factors. Recently, the incidence of gastrocolic fistulas has decreased due to earlier diagnosis and treatment of stomach and colon cancer. The classic triad of symptoms are lienteric diarrhea, feculent vomiting, and foul eructations, but all patients do not necessarily present with these symptoms. A gastrocolic fistula is usually diagnosed by using a barium enema, but occasionally can be detected by using an upper gastrointestinal series or endoscopy. Here, we report experience with a fistula between a cancerous transverse colon and the stomach and give a review of the literature.

Key Words: Gastrocolic fistula; Colon neoplasm; Fistula