Idiopathic non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency and gastric adenocarcinoma: an unreported association in a teenager

Abstract

A 14-year-old boy presented with anorexia and weakness whereon the diagnosis of dimorphic anaemia was made. An excellent response to iron and vitamin B₁₂ was observed. In addition, the patient had non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. At endoscopy 2.5 years later, an adenocarcinoma was diagnosed and the patient underwent a high subtotal gastrectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this rare association has never been reported in children.

Conclusion We report a youngster with pernicious anaemia, associated with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in whom gastric adenocarcinoma was found. Patients with pernicious anaemia are at greater risk of developing gastric carcinoma than the general population, therefore we recommend routine periodic gastroscopic surveillance in the paediatric population with pernicious anaemia.