Benign tumor of the stomach: possible causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment

A benign tumor of the stomach is a neoplasm that does not show a tendency to malignancy. In the absence of treatment, the likelihood of tumor degeneration increases. Benign tumor of the stomach occurs in five percent of cases of all oncological pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Tumors can arise from epithelial, nerve, fat or vascular cells. The progression of the neoplasm in the stomach can occur rapidly or be delayed.

Depending on the direction of their growth, tumors are allocated that move towards the gastric lumen and abdominal organs, as well as those that grow inside the walls of the stomach, without going beyond it. With the same frequency, tumors are found in different areas of the stomach, including the antrum, the body of the organ itself or other places.

Below we consider the classification of benign tumors of the stomach.

neoplasms in the stomach

Classification and features of tumors

Depending on the origin, all benign tumors of the stomach are divided into two groups: non-epithelial and epithelial. The latter variety is divided, in turn, into polyps and adenomas, which can be single or multiple. The difference between these two types of tumors is that the polyps are outgrowths in the gastric lumen, have a round shape and a wide base, while usually located on the leg. The most common cause of polyps is age-related changes. Pathology affects mostly men over 40 years old. From the point of view of histology, a polyp is an overgrown tissue of glands and epithelium connected by a developed vascular network.

Adenomas

Adenomas are true neoplasms of a benign nature, which for the most part consist of glandular tissues. The main difference between an adenoma and a polyp is that the former are more likely to degenerate into malignant tumors. However, adenomas are much less common than polyps.

Benign tumors of the gastric non-epithelial type are also rare. Their formation occurs in the gastric walls on the basis of various tissues.

Main varieties

The main types of tumors of the stomach non-epithelial type are:

  • Fibroids formed from muscle tissue.
  • Neuromas derived from cells that enter the myelin sheath of nerve fibers.
  • Fibromas arising from fat tissue.
  • Lymphangiomas, when tumor cells arise from the walls of the lymph nodes.
  • Hemangiomas originating from cells located in the lymphatic and blood vessels.
  • Mixed variants of non-epithelial neoplasms.

If the appearance of polyps is inherent in men, then non-epithelial tumors are more characteristic of women. All neoplasms of this type have a number of specific features, including clear contours, a smooth surface and a round shape. The growth of a neoplasm in the stomach can occur to quite substantial sizes.

Leiomyoma

A neoplasm of the non-epithelial type, called the leiomyoma, stands out as a separate species. This type of tumor is more common than other similar neoplasms. Leiomyoma can provoke bleeding in the stomach, as well as cause ulcers due to tumor invasion into the gastric membrane. Any types of non-epithelial tumors are more likely to transform into malignant, that is, show a tendency to malignancy.

Signs of benign education

As a rule, the symptoms of a benign tumor of the stomach are not pronounced. If there is no sharp growth of the neoplasm, then its presence does not manifest itself in any way for a person. Most often, benign tumors are detected by indirect signs or are diagnosed by chance during an endoscopic examination.

benign tumors of the stomach modern methods of radiation diagnosis

How to determine if a tumor in the stomach is benign or malignant? The main difference between the first and second is slow growth.

The clinical picture of tumor development includes the following features:

  1. Symptoms characteristic of gastritis, which, however, do not give reason for making this diagnosis.
  2. Hemorrhage in the stomach.
  3. Fatigue, loss of appetite, sudden jumps in weight and other disorders of a general nature, which are often attributed to diseases of the digestive system.
  4. Dyspeptic manifestations.
  5. Anemia against the background of frequent manifestations of hemorrhagic syndrome.
swelling in the stomach benign or malignant

Against the background of the calm course of the pathological process, soreness of a dull or aching nature may occur, which is most often localized in the epigastric region. Most often, pain occurs after eating. Patients in the vast majority of cases associate these manifestations with gastritis.

At large sizes

When the tumor reaches a large size, the symptoms become more pronounced. The patient feels heaviness in the stomach, bouts of nausea, and frequent burping occurs. In the feces and vomit, blood impurities can be detected. Laboratory tests show a decrease in hemoglobin. Patients complain of dizziness and general weakness. In this case, weight loss is observed regardless of the presence of a good appetite.

More than a hundred varieties of neoplasms of a benign nature stand out. Their course and clinical signs can vary greatly. Moreover, the intensity of symptoms depends on the size and growth rate of the tumor, as well as on its location. Bleeding is considered a classic sign of the presence of a neoplasm, especially if it is accompanied by a violation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes and Risk Factors

Modern medicine cannot give an unambiguous answer to the question about the causes of the formation of benign tumors in the stomach. Therefore, it is more correct to consider this issue from the point of view of factors that can provoke a pathological process and lead to the appearance of a neoplasm. Among such factors, the presence of concomitant problems with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract occupies a key place.

Modern doctors adhere to the version that polyps occur against the background of a disturbed process of natural regeneration of the gastric mucosa. That is why the appearance of polyps often accompanies gastritis. Adenomas most often appear against the background of atrophic gastritis. Moreover, in most cases, neoplasms are localized in the lower part of the stomach in the region where the lowest concentration of hydrochloric acid is observed.

In addition, violations of the intrauterine development of the fetus, as well as the presence of pathologies in the chronic form of the course, may be possible causes of the appearance of a non-epithelial type of formations. In the absence of specific reasons for the appearance of tumors, it is impossible to identify effective preventive measures of this pathology. Do not forget about the genetic factor. If neoplasms in the stomach were detected in the patient's relatives, then he automatically falls into the zone of increased risk. Such patients are advised to regularly undergo endoscopic examination for timely detection of the tumor. It makes sense to consult a surgeon at the slightest suspicion of the presence of a polyp or other formation in the stomach.

With a benign tumor of the stomach, modern methods of radiation diagnosis help to identify it at an early stage.

benign tumors of the stomach classification

Diagnostic measures

The diagnosis of "tumor of the stomach" is based on the results of three stages of the study:

  1. Collection of a detailed patient history.
  2. Physical examination.
  3. X-ray and endoscopic examination.

Radiological diagnosis of benign tumors of the stomach is now very popular.

In addition, the patient needs to donate blood to conduct a hemoglobin level study, especially if signs of anemia are observed. This pathology is characteristic of neoplasms that provoke the development of hemorrhagic syndrome. Benign tumor is detected on the basis of the following characteristic signs: size and form of formation, the presence of peristalsis. Fuzzy contours of the tumor, rapid growth and the absence of peristalsis indicates the process of transformation of the neoplasm into malignant.

To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It is this study that makes it possible to assess the condition of the mucous membrane and get a clear image of the tumor, giving an idea of ​​its size and location. In addition, this study allows us to assess the likelihood of tumor degeneration. Visually, it is almost impossible to distinguish a benign tumor from a malignant one; this requires a biopsy.

Another important study in the diagnosis of gastric cancer is called fibrogastroduodenoscopy. For this, a material is taken for histological examination in laboratory conditions. Due to the fact that neoplasms of the non-epithelial type have many varieties, the final diagnosis in some cases is made after the surgery. Non-epithelial formations are diagnosed using the same research methods.

Radiological semiotics of benign and malignant tumors of the stomach is now carried out in all major diagnostic centers.

benign stomach tumor symptoms

Treatment

Treatment of a benign tumor of the stomach is carried out only by surgical methods. Conservative therapy does not give a positive result. If the neoplasm is small and the risk of its degeneration is minimized, doctors prefer to choose a wait-and-see tactic. However, in most cases, surgical removal of the tumor is prescribed. Modern technologies make such operations safe for the health and life of the patient. Removal at an early stage is carried out if the nature of the tumor cannot be determined by the diagnostic methods described above. If there is a danger of malignancy of the neoplasm, the operation is performed immediately after the tumor is detected.

Surgical methods

Specialists use several methods of surgical removal of a tumor of a benign nature:

  • Endoscopic electroexcision. The procedure is a minimally invasive operation that is performed by electrocoagulation by creating access to the tumor of the endoscope. This method is suitable for removing polyps.
  • Enucleative method. It makes it possible to minimize blood loss. An operation is performed using a laparoscope or endoscope, depending on the location of the tumor.
  • Laparoscopic gastric resection. The operation is performed through punctures in the anterior wall of the peritoneum and an incision. During the surgery, part of the stomach is removed, and the digestive tract, interrupted by the incision, is restored using a suture.
  • Gastrectomy It involves the complete removal of the organ. With benign neoplasms, this method is practically not used.
benign tumor of the stomach treatment

Endoscopic surgery

If polyps are detected during diagnosis and are located singly, an endoscopic operation is prescribed. With a small size of the polyp, coagulation is performed. If the tumor size reaches more than 5 mm, electroelution is performed when the polyp is pulled in the region of the leg and removed by an electrocoagulator. Larger polyps are eliminated by submucosal resection with an endoscope.

Forecast

The prognosis for benign tumors in the stomach is relatively favorable. However, relapses of the pathological process are not excluded. Patients after surgery are registered with the Oncology Center for life.

Complications

can there be a benign tumor of the stomach

Complications that can occur against a background of neoplasm in the stomach include:

  1. The degeneration of the tumor into malignant.
  2. Tumor perforation, when an opening and subsequent peritonitis occurs in the gastric wall.
  3. Gastric stenosis.
  4. The appearance of ulcers on the surface of the tumor.
  5. Hemorrhagic syndrome.
  6. Infringement of the polyp when the formation falls into the space of the duodenum and is infringed in the pylorus.

The most important point in the successful treatment of neoplasm is timely diagnosis.

We found out whether a stomach tumor can be benign and how to treat it.


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