Gastric carcinoma: study of the most eminent prognostic factors

In order to analyse some prognostic factors in relation to gastric cancer, 218 patients were included in a prospective protocol at 'Hospital General de Elche' (Spain) with a follow-up of 100%. Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared using the log-rank test. The number of patients who underwent resection was 122 (63.5%). In 70 cases (36.5%) the resection was not possible. The postoperative mortality was 4.9%. In the survival of patients with gastric cancer we find the following prognostic factors are significant: age, tumour site, macroscopic type, depth of gastric wall affection, presence of lymph nodes, staging, resectability and surgical intention (curative vs palliative).