[Peptic ulcer in the anamnesis of stomach cancer patients]

To recognize the causes of late diagnosis of gastric cancer in patients suffering ulcerous disease, in the oncological examination unit of Orekhovo-Zuevo, Moscow Province there was conducted a retrospective examination (for the period of 1970--1975) of the anamnesis of 35 gastric cancer patients (5.5%). As a rule, there were three periods in patients' address to medical specialist, namely: 1) seeking medical advice for chronic gastric affection; 2) a "calm" period; 3) a new character of gastric complaints with the ultimate diagnosis of gastric cancer. The late diagnosis of cancer of the stomach was due to number of errors on the part of general practitioners: undue cessation of dispensary supervision in a "calm" period of ulcerous disease, their being unable to recognize a new character of complaints after the remission, errors on the part of roentgenologists.