Carcinoma of the gastric stump following partial gastrectomy (Billroth II operation) for benign gastroduodenal lesions. Preliminary results.

A series of 110 patients out of 2,200, who had undergone Billroth II partial gastrectomy for benign lesions, between 1945 and 1980, was reviewed in order to perform clinical, biochemical and endoscopical examinations. In this group 9 patients (8.18%) showed gastric stump cancer and in 4 (3.63%) esophageal cancer was detected. The average time interval between previous operation and carcinoma diagnosis was of 28 years and 6 months. Eight patients out of 9 were males aging from 47 to 82, while the only woman was 65 (overall average: 63). The stump cancer presents at the same age and gives the same symptoms as primitive gastric carcinoma, but with worse results and prognosis. After having underlined some pathogenetic problems, the Authors show personal results and confirm the utility of an accurate endoscopical and clinical follow up especially for patients operated on since more than twenty years.