[Changes in the biochemical indices of liver function in stomach and esophageal cancer]

In 190 patients with cancer of the esophagus and stomach the authors have studied biochemical values of blood which reflect the liver function prior to and after the operation but in some patients before death. Moreover, in 98 cases puncturing of the liver was performed with histological assay of the needle biopsy specimen. Based on the clinico-biochemical and morphological correlations, it was found that the patients prior to surgery develop a manifest or obscure hepatic insufficiency on the background of hydropic or balloon dystrophy or acute reactive hepatitis, which in some cases may not be manifested preoperatively by biochemical changes in blood. Postoperatively, these patients would develop a marked progressing hepatic or hepatorenal insufficiency being the direct cause of death in 29.4% of cases. In patients with an evident discord in the clinical state and the degree of biochemical changes in blood, it seems rational to perform preoperative needle biopsy of the liver to reveal the grade of its involvement and to carry on an adequate therapy.