[Superficial cancer of the stomach. 16 cases]

The improvement in the end-results of surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma can be ascribed for the most part to a better knowledge and an increased incidence of mucosal or submucosal types of carcinoma in the patients treated. Of a group of 100 gastric carcinoma, 16 had a superficial carcinoma. Only 11 patients presented at hospital within 12 months of the onset of symptoms. The commonest radiological and macroscopic appearance was a "muco erosival" aspect (10 cases). All patients had a gastric resection without operative mortality. The five-year survival rate (actuarial) was over 80 per cent. To not miss such superficial carcinoma a gastroscopy must be perform not only in all abnormalities of a barium meal, but also in all patients with normal barium meal and upper digestive symptoms.