Gastric carcinoma: 30-year review.

The records of 1030 patients with gastric carcinoma seen between 1941 and 1970 were analysed. A 10-year follow-up was available for 1024. The overall operability and resectability rates were 80.9% and 53.5% respectively, and in the two decades 1951 to 1960 and 1961 to 1970, the rates increased significantly, as did the subtotal gastrectomy rate of 46.9%. Subtotal resection for cure was done in 59.5%, and for palliation in 40.5%. Fifty-six patients underwent a total gastrectomy. There was no significant increase in consecutive decades in either overall 5-year survival or survival following subtotal gastrectomy. The 5- and 10-year survival rates of 15.1% and 6.6%. Of the 5-year survivors, 54% had no lymphnode involvement and 35.2% had nodes positive for tumour spread. Gastroesophagectomy was associated with a high morbidity and extremely low survival. Of 56 patients having a total gastrectomy, 37 lived 1 year or more while only 5 survived 5 or more years. Linitis plastica occurred with equal frequency in men and women. Operability and resectability rates were lower and there was a 90.6% 1-year death rate.