Menetrier's disease and differential diagnosis: A case report

World J Clin Cases. 2021 Aug 16;9(23):6943-6949. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i23.6943.

Abstract

Background: Gastric mucosal hypertrophy, also known as Menetrier's disease (MD), is more common in men over 50 years of age, and the cause is unknown. The symptoms of the disease are atypical, mostly accompanied by hypoproteinemia and edema, and sometimes accompanied by symptoms such as epigastric pain, weight loss, and diarrhea. Most experts believe that the site of the disease is mainly located in the fundus of the stomach and the body of the stomach. We found that the site of the disease in this patient involved the antrum of the stomach.

Case summary: We introduced the case of a 24-year-old woman who had repeated vomiting for 5 d and was admitted to our hospital. After various examinations such as computed tomography and pathology in our hospital, the final diagnosis of the presented case is MD. The salient feature is that the mucosal folds in the fundus and body of the stomach are huge and present in the shape of gyrus. The greater curvature is more prominent, and there are multiple erosions or ulcers on the folds. The patient did not undergo gastric surgery and did not undergo re-examination. She is drinking Chinese medicine for treatment, and her vomiting and abdominal pain symptoms have improved. This disease is relatively rare in clinical practice, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed as gastric cancer, chronic gastritis and gastric lymphoma, etc.

Conclusion: MD can occur in the antrum, it is necessary to raise awareness of the disease and reduce misdiagnosis.

Keywords: Case report; Gastric mucosa; Helicobacter pylori; Hypertrophy; Menetrier’s disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports