[Principles of radicality in stomach carcinoma--a critical evaluation]

The healing rate in patients with gastric cancer did not change during the last three decades despite major changes in therapeutic strategies. The internationally accepted classification allows an exact comparison between different stages of disease. The postoperative mortality has been decreased by improvement in surgical techniques and postoperative intensive care; postoperative morbidity, however, still is high depending on the extent of the surgical procedure. The type of gastric resection is determined by the localisation of the tumour. If systematic lymphadenectomy is of any benefit for the patient, is still unknown. First controlled studies do not allow any definite answer.