The Surgeon's Estimation of Radicality and Results of Pathologic Examination at Margins of Resection in Gastric Cancer Surgery

Abstract

Seven hundred and fifty-three patients operated on for gastric carcinomas were classified as RO (AJCC-R classification). In 93 (12.4%) definite histologic examination showed residual tumor at surgical margins. Detailed analysis showed that frequency of involved margins correlated with site of tumor and increased especially if cardia or the entire stomach was involved and also for Borrmann types III and IV carcinomas. Proximal resection had poorest results. Insufficient extent of surgical margins and loss of tumor differentiation increased the rate of residual tumor. Therefore, frozen sections are recommended in large, proximally located, undifferentiated gastric carcinomas.

Key Words:

• Frozen section
• gastric cancer
• radicality
• recurrence
• surgery