[Diagnostic value of angiography in differentiating the degree of the depressed type of gastric cancer].

Endoscopy and superselective angiography has been performed in 68 preoperative patients with the depressed type gastric cancer. The results are summarized as follows. Differentiation of the cancers into the early and the advanced was correct in 91%, and classification of the cancers into 3 groups (1 ; m, 2 ; sm, 3 ; advanced) was correct in 72% by endoscopy. Differentiation of the cancers into the early and the advanced was correct in 90%, and classification of the cancers into 4 groups (1 ; m X sm, 2 ; pm, 3 ; ss X se, 4 ; sei) was correct in 81% by the angiography. The rate of misdiagnosis, taking the early simulating advanced gastric cancer as the early, was 20% by the endoscopy, as compared to 8% by the angiography. Classification of the early simulating advanced gastric cancers into 3 groups (1 ; pm, 2 ; ss X se, 3 ; sei) was correct in 68% by the angiography. Excavated type cancer was likely to be overestimated as to the depth of invasion by the angiography. Poorly differentiated type, scirrhous type, and infiltrative growth with an ill defined border were found difficult to be correctly evaluated by both endoscopy and angiography. Preoperative angiography was useful for appropriate surgical therapy of the gastric cancer.