COMPARATIVE CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF GASTRIC CANCER IN THE UPPER AND CARDIAC REGIONS

Abstract

For the past 10 years, we experienced 39 and 47 cases of cancer in the cardiac and upper regions of the stomach, respectively. This is a report of a comparative clinicopathological study of them. Gastric cancer in the cardiac region comprised 4.4% of all primary gastric cancers operated in the same period. Both cancers were seen more in males. Gastric cancer in the cardiac region was seen less frequently in the younger generation. Both cancers were found most frequently in the lesser curvature side. Macroscopically, gastric cancer in the cardiac region was a localized type more than the one in the upper region. Cancer invading the serosal surface comprised most of both cancer types.Regional lymph node metastases were found in 69.2% and 70.2% of the cancers in the cardiac and upper regions, respectively. Lower mediastinal lymph node metastases occurred in 20.0% and 22.2% of the cancers in the cardiac and upper regions, respectively. Peritoneal dissemination appeared in 2.5% and 21.2% of the cancers in the cardiac and upper regions, respectively. There were hepatic metastases occurred in 7.6% and 19.1% of the cancers in the cardiac and upper regions, respectively. Most of the two cancers were seen in advanced stages.