[Early gastric cancer]

The authors perform a retrospective analysis of 46 cases of EGC referred to the Surgical Division of Carrara Civic Hospital during the period 1980-1990 who subsequently underwent surgery. Data relating to age, symptomatology and endoscopic examinations were analysed in order to evaluate the real diagnostic penetration of the method in association with tumour biopsy, site, macroscopic aspect, possible lymph node involvement and the histology of lesions. The most frequent form of surgery in this series was subtotal gastrectomy and the 5- and 10-year survival rates, calculated using an actuarial method, were compared with data reported in the literature. The authors conclude by emphasising the need to improve the frequency of diagnosis of gastric cancer at an "early" stage and affirm that gastric resection associated with lymphoadenectomy of 1st and 2nd level lymph nodes is a sufficiently radical operation and less punitive for the patient compared to total gastrectomy given that the 5- and 10-year survival rates are comparable.