Linitis plastica is found in A/E –
**Core Concept**
Linitis plastica, also known as Brinton's disease or leather bottle stomach, is a condition characterized by the diffuse infiltration and thickening of the stomach wall by neoplastic cells, leading to a rigid and non-distensible stomach. This condition is typically associated with gastric adenocarcinoma.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma, which is a type of cancer that arises from the glandular epithelium of the stomach. Linitis plastica is a manifestation of this cancer, where the tumor cells infiltrate and replace the normal gastric tissue, leading to the characteristic thickening and rigidity of the stomach wall. This process involves the disruption of the normal architecture of the stomach, including the destruction of the gastric glands and the replacement of the mucosa with neoplastic cells.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because linitis plastica is not typically associated with gastric ulcers, which are more commonly seen in peptic ulcer disease.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because while lymphoma can involve the stomach, it is not the primary cause of linitis plastica.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because Crohn's disease primarily affects the small intestine, although it can also involve the stomach.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Linitis plastica is often difficult to diagnose on endoscopy due to the diffuse nature of the disease, but it can be suspected based on the presence of a rigid and non-distensible stomach on imaging studies. A key diagnostic clue is the presence of a "leather bottle" appearance on barium studies.
**Correct Answer: D. Ménétrier's disease**