Abstract
Present study reports the histological and endoscopic characteristics of 81 minute cancers of the stomach. The minute cancer was defined as that within 1 cm in diameter. The results were : 1) The majority of the minute gastric cancers were histologically of differentiated adenocarcinoma and the invasions were limited within the mucosal layer. 2) 42 lesions were diagnosed preoperatively. About one half of them were detected their presence by X-ray examination, on the other hand, approximately 90 % were correctly diagnosed by endoscopy. 3) The limit of size in the endoscopic detection of minute gastric cancers appeared to be around 4 mm in diameter. The cancers larger than 6 mm in diameter were successfully detected in most of the cases preoperatively. 4) The endoscopic characteristics of minute gastric cancers were studied, deviding 11 a and If c into 4 types respectively, and II b into 2 types. 5) Biopsy played the most important role in the diagnosis of minute gastric cancers. A correct aiming of the first biopsy was essential.
