[Advanced gastric carcinoma in the proximal third and half of the stomach: clinical and pathological characteristics and survival prognosis factors].

PURPOSE

To identify the clinical and pathological characteristics and prognosis factors for five-year survival in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma in the proximal third and half of the stomach undergoing gastrectomy with limited and extended lymphadectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed information from 39 patients with histological diagnosis of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma in the upper third and half of the stomach (U-M) who underwent gastrectomy with limited (D0-D1) and extended (D2-D3) lymphadectomy at the Belén Hospital in Trujillo between January 1, 1966 and December 31, 2000.

RESULTS

The mean age of the U-M group was 55.56+/-16.24 years. There were 27 males (69.2%) and 12 females (30.8%) (M:F ratio was 2.3:1). The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (94.9%) and weight loss (61.5%). The most common evidence was pallor (61.5%). The independent prognosis factors statistically related to survival were: depth of T2 invasion (p=0.017), presence of remote metastasis (p=0.013), clinic stage I-II (p=0.005), Borrmann lesions I-II (p=0.05) and surgery with healing intention (p=0.003). The actuarial 5-year survival rate for all the series reached 13.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection and the feasibility of gastrectomy with preservation of the pancreas tail should be considered in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma in the proximal third and half of the stomach in order to improve their survival.