[A cooperative study on early and intermediate gastric cancer: clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects]

A cooperative study involving 13 hospitals in Chile allowed the analysis of 353 patients with gastric cancer in early stages. 82 cancers were located at the mucosal level, 151 at the submucosa and 120 reached the muscular layer. There were no differences in age and sex among these groups. Compared to early stage, patients with intermediate stage had a greater incidence of bleeding, anemia and undernutrition and exhibited lower body weight. Endoscopy had a higher diagnostic yield compared to radiological study. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy in 95% of patients. Total or subtotal gastrectomy was performed according to the location of the lesion, with a low operative mortality rate. Early gastric cancer accounts for 8 to 10% of all patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical treatment.