[Gastroscopic mucosal biopsy and carbon ink injection marking for determination of resection line on the gastric wall in stomach cancer].

Gastroscopic mucosal biopsies and carbon ink injection marking were performed in 31 patients with gastric cancer before operation. The resection line of gastric wall was determined during operation according to the marked points. The method, dose, site, and opportunity of ink injection were studied. The results were: 1. None of these 31 patients had positive biopsies from cancer free areas. None of the resected specimens showed deep cancer infiltration beyond the site of carbon ink injection. This method is significant in recognizing the extent of intramucosal cancer infiltration; 2. None of the 31 patients marked by ink injection had residual cancer on the resected line whereas 8-10% of those unmarked had a positive margin. This result indicates that this method is significant in avoiding residual cancer on the resection line; and 3. Before surgery, the home-made carbon ink was satisfactory. The optimum dose for an ideal ink point was 0.05-0.1 ml/point which would give a marking of 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter on the serosa. The ink point was clearly shown on the anterior wall but less satisfactorily on the lesser curvature of the stomach. Injection performed as early as the fifth week before operation was valid.