Carcinoma of the Gastric Cardia: Factors Influencing the Choice of Therapy and the Outcome of Different Treatment Modalities

Abstract

Carcinoma of the gastric cardia is a cancer found with increasing frequency. Nevertheless, there are no clear strategies for the operative treatment of this cancer. In accordance with the long-term complications and postoperative quality of life we recommend abdominal gastrectomy for carcinomas of the gastric fundus involving the cardia without infiltration of the esophagus. Barett's carcinoma should be treated like esophageal cancer. The typical carcinoma of the cardia is best treated by abdominothoracal gastrectomy in younger patients, whereas in high-risk patients we prefer the abdominothoracal proximal resection.

Key Words:

• Cancer of cardia
• outcome
• therapy