In recent years, experts have discovered in India, southeastern China and other places that some gastric cancer patients have symptoms of darkening of the skin, and then develop symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite. Moreover, most of their skin is accompanied by a thick layer of lichen-like skin lesions, officially known as "acanthosis nigricans". Although these cases are relatively rare, they may bring new clues to the diagnosis of early gastric cancer and help early screening of patients with early gastric cancer. Here are the details of a relevant case:
There were two related cases in India in 2014. A 43-year-old male farmer developed fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Initially, doctors thought it was caused by parasitic diseases and anemia, butTreatmentfor both causes were ineffective. Later, the doctor discovered that the male patient often experienced fullness and upper abdominal discomfort after meals, and his palms became black and had thickened skin lesions. In the same year, a 51-year-old local female patient with diabetes also had similar symptoms. She had the same thick acanthosis nigricans lesions on her palms and back.Gastroscopyrevealed that both patients were subsequently diagnosed with gastric cancer.
In 2017, a 74-year-old male farmer in southeastern China suffered from symptoms of acanthosis nigricans on his face, fingers, palms, soles and various parts of his body for 7 months. The male patient later felt symptoms such as heartburn and abdominal distension after meals, and was eventually diagnosed with gastric cancer.
Although the medical community still has no definite answer as to the relationship between acanthosis nigricans and cancer, other studies have pointed out in the past that this type of skin lesion is common in lung and stomach tumors. Acanthosis nigricans is rare in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, people with diabetes have a higher chance of developing this disease.
The above information is for reference only. Consult your doctor if you have any doubt.
