Gastric adenocarcinoma mistakenly diagnosed as an eating disorder: case report.

OBJECTIVE

A number of organic conditions may mimic the symptoms of an eating disorder, however, gastric outlet obstruction mimicking anorexia nervosa has rarely been reported.

METHOD: We report the case of a 51-year-old female admitted to an eating disorders unit with an initial diagnosis of anorexia nervosa.

RESULTS

The patient's upper gastrointestinal symptoms and weight loss were found to be secondary to gastric outlet obstruction from a gastric adenocarcinoma. Coincidental psychosocial stressors and past psychiatric history, among other factors, had confounded the diagnosis.

DISCUSSION: Organic causes of weight loss and upper gastrointestinal symptoms need to be fully excluded prior to making the diagnosis of an eating disorder, particularly when there are atypical features in the presentation.