[T1 carcinoma of the stomach in endoscopy and microscopy (author's transl)]

After intensification of our gastroscopic examinations in 15 cases of early stage T1-carcinoma of the stomach was found by biopsy and proven in the resection specimen. Further, 144 advanced carcinomata of type T2 and T3 were detected. The incidence was 0,42% of all gastroscopies and 9,3% of all assessed carcinomata. The discovery of 284 high risk patients is of special importance and it is expected that intensive follow-up examinations of this group will enable the early detection and surgical cure of gastric carcinoma. We are not agreeing with pessimistic authors believing that the early diagnosis of the wide spread gastric carcinoma may not be improved. The main problem seems to us the too great time delay until diagnosis. As it is valid in general for the early detection of cancer it has to be an important task for the practizing physician to recognize the very first gastric symptoms in order to admit the patient as early as possible to gastroenteroscopy.