Diffuse submucosal cysts of the stomach: Report of two cases in association with development of multiple gastric cancers during endoscopic follow up

Background: Diffuse submucosal cysts of the stomach have been suggested as a predisposing condition for the development of gastric cancer, especially multiple cancers. We report here two cases of diffuse submucosal cysts of the stomach associated with multiple gastric cancers which were detected during endoscopic follow-up. Methods and Results: The first patient was a 75-year- old man and the second patient was a 72-year-old man. In the first case, we performed an endoscopic examination every year and detected an advanced cancer and two early cancers on the fifth year of the follow up. Because one of these cancers was advanced, we examined the second patient endoscopically every six months. In this patient, we detected two early cancers after 1.5 years follow up. Conclusions: We suggest that patients with this disorder should be examined regularly by endoscopy for the detection of gastric cancer, preferably every six months.