[Hystopathology of gastric cancer]

This study draws a random sample (334 individuals) of all patients diagnosed with stomach cancer from 1980 to 1995 at the National Cancer Institute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and reviews histopathological data. Agreement between previous and present classification of the histopathological material (Laurén's classification) was considered quite substantial (kappa = 0.65). Based on this classification, a statistically nonsignificant trend towards decline in the intestinal type of stomach cancer among older individuals (60 years old or older) from both genders was observed (males: 41.0% in 1980-1985, 37.9% in 1986-1990, and 28.8% in 1991-1995; females: 41.4%, 31.5%, and 15.2%, respectively). Proportions of the intestinal type among younger patients from both genders remained stable throughout the period.