Primary gastric stump cancer has been defined as a primary carcinoma of the gastric remnant, arising at a minimum of 5 years following a partial gastrectomy, in which the resected portion of the stomach was shown microscopically to be free of malignant disease. Our experience with 12 patients with this entity is presented. Two additional patients developed gastric cancer following a gastroenterostomy. An abnormality was detected in 9 cases and correctly diagnosed as cancer in 6 instances. Retrospectively, abnormalities were present in all 12 patients. Review of the world literature tends to support the concept that patients who have had a partial gastrectomy for gastric ulcer are more likely to develop gastric cancer than those who were operated on because of a duodenal ulcer.