Malignant Gastric Tumor

Description

Anterior thoracoabdominal anatomy is presented with the stomach opened to expose the rugae and a broad, irregular malignant mass arising from the gastric mucosa. Superior to the stomach sit the lungs within the lower thorax, while the left lobe of the liver drapes anterosuperiorly and the gallbladder lies on the visceral surface of the right lobe. Along the greater curvature, the greater omentum descends toward the transverse colon, and the small intestine coils inferiorly, framed peripherally by the large intestine. Nearby structures commonly seen in this field include the pancreas posterior to the stomach and the spleen at the left upper quadrant, with major vessels tracking along the lesser curvature and into the mesentery. Gastric cancer is most often an adenocarcinoma, and an opened stomach view helps correlate gross morphology with the endoscopic and surgical reality of infiltrative disease, ulcerating masses, or diffuse wall thickening (linitis plastica) that can be underestimated on external inspection. Lymphatic spread follows predictable routes along the lesser and greater curvatures to perigastric nodes and onward to the celiac nodal basin, a pattern that drives D1 versus D2 lymphadenectomy planning during subtotal or total gastrectomy. Bleeding, outlet obstruction at the pylorus, and early satiety from reduced gastric compliance are common clinical consequences. Staging depends on depth of invasion and adjacent organ involvement. Use this plate for teaching upper gastrointestinal gross pathology in anatomy and pathology blocks, illustrating tumor location relative to the liver, pancreas, spleen, and transverse colon, or for surgical education materials describing gastrectomy exposure and nodal mapping. It also supports patient-facing oncology brochures that need clear orientation of abdominal organs in a male body. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.