Lanthanum carbonate (LC) is an orally administered phosphate binder. Its absorption is generally thought to be minimal. We report here the case of an 81-year-old woman who underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer after receiving hemodialysis for 1 year and taking LC for 7 months. Lanthanum phosphate compounds were found histologically in the gastric mucosa and a regional lymph node and confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. These findings suggest that lanthanum is absorbed in the stomach and transported via lymph flow. This observation could prove helpful in future investigation of lanthanum disposition.
Keywords: absorption; dialysis; lanthanum; lymph node; stomach.