Simultaneous Resection of Gastric Carcinoma and Splenectomy in a Patient with Polycythemia Vera: Report of a Case

We report herein the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent resection of gastric carcinoma after being treated for polycythemia vera (PV) for 16 months. He was admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding; barium meal roentogenogram and endoscopic examination subsequently revealed a Borrmann type II carcinoma in the cardia of the stomach with extension into the lower esophagus. Thus, a lower esophagogastrectomy, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and lymph node dissection were performed. Although an insufficiency of the esophagojejunal anastomosis occurred, the patient suffered no hematologic complications in the setting of careful myelosuppressive and antiplatelet coagulation therapy. He is currently doing well 5 years after his operation, with grade 1 performance status and no signs of recurrence or any hematologic complications.