[Surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma. German multicenter observational studies]

The aim of the review is to compare the results of selected German multicenter observational studies on the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma within the last two decades. Overall, 6,035 patients with gastric cancer who had been registered in numerous German comprehensive surgical clinics and departments in the time periods 1986-1989, January through December 2002 and 2007-2009 were enrolled in this analysis. In particular, the study aimed to investigate the most important criteria and factors with an impact on the perioperative and early postoperative outcome including the effects on oncological long-term results. In addition to the advances in diagnostic procedures and surgical techniques, the impact of multimodal therapeutic concepts which have been established particularly in the third investigation period is emphasized.