Cáncer gástrico: experiencia de 10 años

One hundred and ten patients with gastric cancer were included in this study from January 1982 to December 1992, with a follow-up period of 5 to 126 months. There was a higher incidence in males, and the mean age was 59 years. The most important clinical feature was weight loss (78 %). At diagnosis, the mean duration of symptoms was 29.5 months. The most commonly used and reliable diagnostic procedures were upper gastrointestinal series and gastroscopy with biopsy, with diagnostic rates of 93 % and 100 %, respectively. Most cases were adenocarcinomas (98 %), with a predominance of G2 and G3 tumors. The most common tumor locations were the lower third (36 %) and the middle third (30 %) of the stomach. Carcinoma was diagnosed at stages III and IV in 86 % of patients. Ninety-seven patients underwent surgery (88 %), and 73 cases (75 %) received radical surgery. Complementary therapy was administered to 90 patients (82 %). Twenty-five patients in stage III, branch A, were treated with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy (RT + CT), while 20 patients in branch B received chemotherapy alone (CT). The two-year survival rate for stage III was 61 % in branch A versus 35 % in branch B (p > 0.5). The five-year survival rates were 37 % and 35 %, respectively. Survival for stage IV was very poor.