What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to analyze and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and vascular features among different types of gastric carcinoma.

February 28, 2026International Journal of General Medicine0 citationsOpen Access

Characterization of Gastric Mucinous Carcinoma: Clinicopathological Insights and Vascular Features via MSCT

YHYueqi Huang QLQingchun Li LLLei Li

Key Points

This research aims to analyze and compare the clinicopathological characteristics and vascular features among different types of gastric carcinoma.
Analyzed clinical, radiological, and pathological data from gastric carcinoma patients across three groups (MGC, LEMPC, NMGC).
Evaluated microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of angiogenesis-related markers (VEGF-A, HIF-1α, EGF) using immunohistochemistry.
Assessed correlations between multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) features and histopathological parameters.
MGC exhibited lower overall survival compared to NMGC (P = 0.021).
MSCT revealed significant differences in maximum tumor diameter, mucosal integrity, and enhancement parameters between groups.
MGC had reduced MVD relative to NMGC (P < 0.001), with lower expression of VEGF-A and EGF in MGC/LEPC compared to NMGC (P = 0.002, P < 0.001).

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the clinicopathologic characteristics, Multi-slice Spiral CT (MSCT) vascular features, and angiogenesis profiles among mucinous gastric carcinoma (MGC), gastric carcinoma with < 50% extracellular mucin pool (LEMPC), and non-mucinous gastric carcinoma (NMGC), and to explore imaging-angiogenesis associations underlying subtype-specific enhancement patterns. Patients and Methods: Clinical, radiological, and pathological data from patients with MGC, LEMPC, and NMGC were analyzed in a three-group comparative design. Microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in cancerous and corresponding paracancerous normal tissues. Correlations between MSCT features and histopathological parameters were assessed. Results: Overall survival was lower in the MGC group than in the NMGC group ( P = 0.021). Enhanced MSCT demonstrated significant intergroup differences in maximum tumor diameter, mucosal integrity, calcification, and enhancement parameters (including range, features, maximum value, and ratio), with MGC more frequently showing intact mucosal lines, calcifications, and layered enhancement. Angiogenesis-related assessments showed lower MVD in MGC than in NMGC ( P < 0.001). VEGF-A and EGF expression in cancerous tissues was lower in MGC / LEMPC than in NMGC ( P = 0.002, P < 0.001), while HIF-1α expression was similar across all groups. These findings paralleled the lower MSCT enhancement indices observed in MGC. Conclusion: MGCs, marked by poor differentiation and poor prognosis, exhibit intact mucosal lines, frequent calcification, and stratified enhancement on enhanced MSCT. Reduced MSCT enhancement indices are associated with low angiogenesis, concomitant with decreased VEGF-A and EGF expression. Keywords: gastric mucinous carcinoma, multi-slice spiral CT, angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor A, epidermal growth factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha

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