Abstract
The growth pattern and progression in early gastric cancers have not been known correctly, because it is rare to follow up for long term without operation. For a clinicopathological study of early gastric cancers from the standpoint of tumor size, 96 lesions were classified by tumor size into four groups: within 1.0 cm, 1.1-3.0 cm, 3.1-5.0 cm, over 5.1 cm groups. The mean tumor size of early gastric cancers was 3.0 cm. The tumor size was significantly larger in females, flat-type and poorly differentiated tumors. The incidence of submucosal tumors in the size of 3.1-5.0 cm was significantly higher than those in other three groups. Although there was no relationship between lymph node status and tumor size. Small type of carcinoma (in a size of within 1 cm) was found in 11 (11.5%) cases and superficial spreading type of early gastric carcinoma (larger than 5×5 cm) in 7 (7.3%) cases. All carcinomas except one case of small type carcinoma were intramucosal tumors. Small type of carcinomas were predominantly comprized of type IIc and IIa and well or moderately differentiated tumors, versus dominant type IIb and poorly differentiated (mostly signet cell type) tumors in the others.
