Gastrocolic fistula originating from transverse colon cancer: report of a case and review of the Japanese literature.

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of loss of weight, general fatigue, and upper abdominal pain. Barium studies suggested that a fistula was present between the proximal transverse colon and the stomach which originated from a carcinoma of the colon. A plain computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of a gastrocolic fistula. A two-thirds distal gastrectomy and right hemicolectomy with a resection of a bulky tumor in the mesocolon were performed en bloc. Histological examination revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon which was involved with the wall of the stomach. We were able to obtain information on 14 previous cases of gastrocolic fistula originating from transverse colon cancer in the Japanese literature, including the present case. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (64%). A preoperative diagnosis of fistula was confirmed in 10 of the 11 cases examined by barium studies. A plain CT and a CT scan after the barium studies may also be helpful in detecting fistula formation. A fistula between the carcinoma of the middle or distal transverse colon and the stomach was found in 13 of 14 cases, but not in our case. Only one case lived longer than 9 years, even though a surgical resection was possible in 9 of 11 cases.