In order to elucidate the malignancy of Borrmann type 3 gastric cancer, 216 cases of this cancer diagnosed and resected at the author's department between 1971 and 1984, were macroscopically classified into 3 subtypes, namely types A, B and C, and their prognostic factors and prognosis were evaluated.
In 52 cases of the subtype A cancer, the greater part of the rim was well demarcated. In contrast, the greater part of the rim was poorly demarcated in 94 cases with the subtype B cancer, and the entire rim of 70 cases with the subtype C cancer was poorly demarcated.
The subtype A cancer occurred frequently in the lower lower third of the stomach. When the cancer was greater than 5. 1 cm in diameter, the prognosis for this group was significantly better than it was for the other two groups.
The subtype B cancer occurred mainly in the lower and upper third of the stomach. The prognosis for this group was dismal because non-curative.
The subtype C cancer appeared frequently in the middle and lower third of the stomach. The mean age of this group was significantly younger than those of the other two groups, and the mean diameter of these cancers was the least of the three groups. It was of interest that many cancers of this subtype were already advanced, although the diameter was small. The prognosis for this group was the worst of the three groups especially when the cancer was greater than 5.1cm in diameter.
This classification appears to be clinically useful for selecting the surgical procedure and predicting the progress of Borrmann type 3 gastric cancer.
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