Evaluation of histological classification in early gastric cancer (an analysis of 300 cases).

Using the Lauren approach of histological classification, 300 cases of early gastric cancer (EGC) were analysed with regard to their age distribution, to predisposing lesions, including gastritis, and survival rate. The average age of onset for EGC of the diffuse type is 56, ten years earlier than for the intestinal type. There was a significantly high percentage of EGC of the diffuse type without gastritis. On the other hand, gastritis in pernicious anaemia falls in the high-risk group. The survival rate in our cases is 98%, corrected for age. The results show that it is of utmost importance to differentiate between the histological types of gastric carcinoma; for there may be indeed a difference in pathogenesis and aetiology.