[Value of gastroscopy in postoperative patients with gastric cancer]

From September 1980 to May 1987, fiberoptic gastroscopy was performed in 3538 patients. Of them, 356 (10%) had received operation for gastric cancer. A second primary cancer was found in 31 cases, recurrent gastric cancer in 18 and adenoma in 87. Among the 138 asymptomatic operated patients, a second primary cancer developed in 8, and 6 of them were in the early stage. In the 218 symptomatic operated patients, a second primary cancer developed in 23, and 10 of them were in the early stage. The results suggest that gastroscopic examinations at regular intervals are mandatory for asymptomatic postoperative patients.