SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF BENIGN GASTRIC TUMORS

Comparing with malignant lesions or peptic ulcer benign gastric tumors are rare. From 916 patients with gastric diseases, who underwent lapa ratomy between 1980 and 1993 in the Surgical Department at the Univers ity of Cologne, we found only 15 cases (1.6%) of benign gastric tumors . The most common benign tumor of the stomach are leiomyomas followed by adenomas. The majority of benign tumors are asymptomatic. Complaint s as hemorrhage or pain are seen of large tumors. Gastroscopy is the m ost important examination in the diagnosis of benign gastric tumors. E ndoscopic polypectomy should be carried out in those lesions still ben ign. Greater lesions or endoscopically incomplete excised polyps shoul d be treated surgically. Mesenchymal tumors are difficult to estimate in their dignity. The treatment of choice is local surgical extirpatio n. The postoperative results are excellent.