[Clinical course characteristics of gastric cancer 1958-1990]

The clinical, surgical and histopathologic characteristics of patients with gastric cancer were compared among 3 consecutive periods from 1958 to 1990. A significant increase in the frequency of location at the upper third of the stomach, a greater proportion of resectable lesions, an increasing tendency towards extended total gastrectomy and a significant increase in the frequency of undifferentiated or diffuse carcinoma were observed. A change in pathogenetic factors along the years may be involved in the differences described.