Surgery for gastric cancer in Singapore, 1951-1980, with particular reference to racial differences in incidence.

The incidence of surgery for gastric cancer in Singapore increased during the period 1951 to 1980 (males from 3.5 to 8.7 per 100,000 per year: females from 0.5 to 4.2 per 100,000 per year). This increase occurred mainly during the first decade of the study and was confined to persons aged 55 and above. Chinese had the highest incidence, followed by Indians and then Malays. These racial differences remained unchanged over the period of study.