The key difference between intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer is that intestinal cancer is a type of gastrointestinal tract cancer that starts in the small intestine or small bowel, while diffuse gastric cancer is a type of gastrointestinal tract cancer that starts in the stomach.
Gastrointestinal tract cancer develops along the gastrointestinal tract, which starts in the esophagus and ends in the anus. There are different types of gastrointestinal tract cancers, such as esophageal cancer, bile duct cancer, gall bladder cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, liver cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, anal cancer, rectal cancer, etc.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Intestinal Cancer
3. What is Diffuse Gastric Cancer
4. Similarities – Intestinal and Diffuse Gastric Cancer
5. Intestinal vs Diffuse Gastric Cancer in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Intestinal vs Diffuse Gastric Cancer
What is Intestinal Cancer?
Intestinal cancer is a type of gastrointestinal tract cancer that occurs in the small intestine or small bowel. It starts in the lining of the small intestine and may spread from the digestive system or other parts of the body. It normally develops in the duodenum, which is the upper part of the small intestine. There are different types of intestinal cancers, like adenocarcinomas, sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal cancer, carcinoid cancer, and lymphomas in the small intestine.
Figure 01: Intestinal Cancer
The common symptoms of intestinal cancer include abdominal pain, unexpected weight loss, weakness or fatigue, bloody or tarry bowel movements, and an observable lump in the abdomen. Intestinal cancer is caused by inheritance (family history of familial adenomatous polyposis, multiple endocrine neoplasias, Gardner syndrome, and Von Recklinghausen’s disease) and environmental factors (smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, high-fat diet, and chemical exposure to toxins such as vinyl chloride, etc.)
Intestinal cancer can be diagnosed through upper gastrointestinal series, endoscopic procedures, enteroclysis, Barium enema with X-rays, and CT scans. Furthermore, treatment options for intestinal cancer may include surgery (removing parts of the gastrointestinal organs), chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
What is Diffuse Gastric Cancer?
Diffuse gastric cancer is a type of gastrointestinal tract cancer that starts in the stomach. It is a rare type of stomach cancer. Mutations in genes, such as CDH1, RHO, etc., can cause diffuse gastric cancer. People who are affected by this condition are often about age 40. The symptoms of diffuse gastric cancer may include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble swallowing, low appetite, weight loss, jaundice, fluid buildup in the belly, firm lumps under the skin, and broken skin.
Figure 02: Diffuse Gastric Cancer
Moreover, diffuse gastric cancer can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for diffuse gastric cancer include surgery to remove the parts of the stomach (gastrectomy), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drugs, lifestyle, and home remedies (exercises, avoiding salt, cured or preserved foods, and stopping smoking).
What are the Similarities Between Intestinal and Diffuse Gastric Cancer?
- Intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer are two different types of gastrointestinal tract cancers.
- Both cancers are predominantly seen in older people.
- They can be due to inherited gene mutations.
- They can also be diagnosed through endoscopy and genetic testing.
- They are mainly treated through respective surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Intestinal and Diffuse Gastric Cancer?
Intestinal cancer starts in the small intestine or small bowel, while diffuse gastric cancer starts in the stomach. Thus, this is the key difference between intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer.
The below infographic presents the differences between intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Intestinal vs Diffuse Gastric Cancer
Gastrointestinal tract cancer is a cancer that develops along the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer are two different types of gastrointestinal tract cancers that are commonly seen in older people. Intestinal cancer can be seen in the small intestine or small bowel, while diffuse gastric cancer can be seen in the stomach. So, this is the key difference between intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer.
Reference:
1. “Intestinal Cancer: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments.” Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 20 July 2022.
2. Iyer, Pritish, et al. “Diffuse Gastric Cancer: Histologic, Molecular, and Genetic Basis of Disease.” Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 Oct. 2020.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Pre and post chemotherapy colorectal cancer” By KIICHI SUGIMOTO, KAZUHIRO SAKAMOTO – https://doi.org/10.14789/jmj.2019.65.JMJ19-LN02, Juntendo Medical Journal, 2019 Volume 65 Issue 2 Pages 194-202, Surgery, Perioperative Treatment and Prognostic Factors Based on Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in Colorectal Cancer (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Pie chart of stomach cancer types by relative incidence” By Mikael Häggström (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
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