[Results following resection in early stomach carcinoma]

The results of surgical resection in early gastric cancer were analyzed retrospectively. These operations were performed between 1982 and 1991 on 52 consecutive patients (29 women, 23 men; average age 64 [35-85] years). The tumours were resected by total gastrectomy in 11, by subtotal gastrectomy in 31, and by Billroth I resection in 10, followed by limited lymphadenectomy of the perigastric group of lymph-nodes (D1 dissection). There was one operative death (1.9%). The tumor was confined to the mucosa in 36 patients (69%), while submucosal infiltration was present in 16 (31%) and metastases to the regional lymph-nodes in seven (13%). Follow-up examination took place in all patients, after an average period of observation of 6.1 years. For the total group the 5-year survival rate, including operative mortality, was 83.7%. It correlated with the depth of penetration of the tumour and nodal involvement. 5-year survival rate for mucosal tumour was 90%, with submucosal infiltration 66.7% (P < 0.03), without lymph-node metastasis 86.4%, with it 68.6% (P < 0.05). The extent of resection and the tumour classification (according to Laurén--intestinal or diffuse) did not influence survival.--Early gastric cancer, contrary to that in the advanced stages, has a very good prognosis. But it is significantly altered by the depth of penetration of the tumour and nodal metastasis.