[Metastasis of superficial stomach cancer]

The report deals with the results of the follow-up of 158 cases of superficial cancer of the stomach (located between mucous membrane and submucosal layer). Metastases into regional lymph nodes were detected during surgery in 15 cases (11%). A 5-year survival following radical surgery was registered in 50% of patients with metastases of superficial cancer into regional lymph nodes, it being 86% in cases without regional metastases. Metastases may appear as a concomitant feature of cancer still within the bounds of mucous membrane and submucosal layer and tumors less than 2 cm in diameter as well as all other gross anatomical forms of superficial cancer of the stomach. Therefore, superficial cancer of the stomach with metastases into regional lymph nodes cannot be regarded as an early form of cancer.