Gastric adenocarcinoma occurring in a young patient with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome

Yap YL, So JBY
Correspondence: Dr Yap Yan Lin, yapyanlin@yahoo.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Patients with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome (CVID) have an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma. We describe a case of gastric adenocarcinoma in a 29-year-old man with CVID. He complained of dyspepsia and weight loss. Endoscopy showed an antral lesion. He underwent subtotal gastrectomy with postoperative adjuvant chemoradiation, and remained disease-free for three years. CVID is a predisposing factor for gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastric complaints are common among these patients and should be viewed seriously. Endoscopy is performed to detect any pathology. Premalignant conditions like chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia require regular endoscopic surveillance in these high-risk patients.

Keywords: B-cell deficiency, common variable immunodeficiency syndrome, gastric adenocarcinoma, hypogammaglobinaemia
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(6): e201-e203