Carcinoma of the gastric cardia and hiatal hernia

Carcinoma of the cardia of the stomach in patients with sliding hiatal hernia is a disease of poor prognosis, since symptoms nearly always occur late in its course at an already incurable stage. Eleven cases are reviewed from the records of The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center from 1932 to 1975. Resectability of tumor appeared related to shorter interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis. Barium studies combined with esophagoscopy led to correct preoperative diagnosis of malignancy in all cases.