EARLY GASTRIC-CANCER

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 81  (2) , 247-256
Abstract
Twenty-eight cases (13%) of early gastric cancer were found from among 213 cases of gastric cancer resected over 10 yr. The incidence was higher in the 2nd 5 yr than the 1st. The lesions were classified into type I (polypoid, 29%), type II (superficial, 2), type III (ulcerated, 32%) and mixed (18%) according to the Japanese classification. Twenty-nine percent had lymph node metastases. In only 50% of the early cases, had endoscopy or radiology suggested that the lesions were malignant. Biopsy diagnosis of carcinoma was made in 20 cases preoperatively and was negative for carcinoma in 4 others. Adequate numbers of endoscopic biopsy specimens must be taken to ensure a diagnosis in early gastric cancer. Follow-ups were obtained in all early and 70% of the advanced cancer patients. Life table survival curves revealed 5 yr survival rates of 68% for the early gastric cancer and 27% for the advanced cancer cases (P < 0.01). None of the patients in the 1st group died of gastric cancer. The early gastric cancer patients had a 32% incidence of other, nongastric malignancies compared to 7.7% in the advanced cancer group. Gastric cancer is being diagnosed at an early stage and the survival rates for these patients are significantly greater than those with advanced gastric cancer.