Epidemiologic characteristics of gastric stump cancer in the GDR 1971-1980

Epidemiologic features of carcinoma of the gastric remnant are described based on 3024 such cases reported to the National Cancer Registry of the German Democratic Republic from 1971 to 1980. Although the incidence of gastric cancer in general declined during this period this was not the case with gastric stump carcinoma. The sex ratio of gastric stump carcinoma showed a male predominance of 5.9: 1(2,583: 441). The age at diagnosis of gastric remnant cancer was somewhat lower than that of other gastric cancers. Some regional differences were discerned in its frequency which could not readily be explained. Approximately 20% of cases were diagnosed in stages I and II but radical surgery was only possible on 14% of all cases. The crude five year survival rate in 1975 was 2.5% overall and 15% on the radically operated patients. The epidemiologic data concerning gastric stump cancer demonstrate its importance in the context of the entire picture of stomach cancer and make clear the unsatisfactory diagnostic and therapeutic situation with respect to this form of carcinoma.