Metastatic signet ring gastric adenocarcinoma presenting with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia

Metastatic adenocarcinoma presenting as microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) and leukoerythroblastic blood picture is rare. We report three patients who presented with MAHA as the initial symptom of metastatic signet ring cell gastric adenocarcinoma. One patient had past history of gastric ulcer. In all these patients the initial diagnosis was based on peripheral blood smear followed by bone marrow biopsy; upper GI endoscopy showed presence of gastric ulcers with focally scattered neoplastic signet ring cells on histopathology. All patients died within a week of diagnosis. [Indian J Gastroenterol 2007;26:185-186]