[Characterization of gastric carcinoma viewed from the primary cancer site]

Character of gastric carcinoma is closely related to the location and the primary site. The 679 cases of gastric carcinoma, curatively resected eleven year period, were studied for the relationship between the primary site and the character. The lower portion of the stomach (A) was characterized by large numbers of protruded type of early cancer, localized type of advanced cancer, and intestinal type histologically. The middle portion of the stomach (M) was characterized by large numbers of depressed type of early cancer, infitrative type of advanced cancer, and diffuse type histologically. The cancer of upper portion (C) involving 2 or 3 portions was characterized by large numbers of infitrative type of advanced cancer. In general, the ratio of intestinal type to diffuse type became inverted in the forties, and percentage of intestinal type increased by aging. In the advanced cancer of the upper portion, the invasion of the ratio occurred in the late fifties. Intestinal metaplasia and changing F-line of the gastric mucosa by aging is thought to be background factors of such characterization of gastric carcinoma.