The Present Status of the Treatment of Gastric Malignancy

Abstract

Successful treatment of gastric cancer is related to early recognition of these tumors and dependent on more thorough surgical removal of all cancer tissue. In many cases this will mean a total gastrectomy. Radical surgery is indicated when more thorough removal of all cancer tissue is thus insured and when such extensive operations can be done without increased morbidity or increased mortality. Operative mortality with total gastrectomy is approximately that of partial gastrectomy. If our five year survival rate can be increased and the operative mortality not be increased, a more extensive operative procedure such as total gastrectomy is justified.