[Errors in diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer]

An analysis of 51 cases of erroneous diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer showed inadequate follow-up to cause advancement in 39 patients suffering from chronic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result of such superficial approach as well as insufficient oncological experience of general doctors, patients go through 2-6 examinations before diagnosis is established, this taking 5.8 +/- 1.4 months in rural, and 3.9 +/- 0.8 in urban areas. Failure to carry out intraoperative morphological verification of the diagnosis which results in unjustified extension of surgical intervention or, on the contrary, decision not to operate radically is the typical error involved in treatment of gastric cancer at general hospitals.