CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GASTRIC REMNANT CANCER AND PRIMARY-CANCER IN THE UPPER THIRD OF THE STOMACH

Background: The prognosis of gastric remnant cancer is considered to b e poor compared with that of primary cancer. Materials and Methods: Th is study was conducted to elucidate the differences of clinicopatholog ic findings and treatment results between 59 patients with gastric rem nant cancer (GRC) and 579 patients with primary proximal gastric cance r (PGC). Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of lymph node metastasis between GRC and PGC. However, changes in the metastatic pattern to lymph nodes were observed in GRC. In GRC, the t umor easily invaded the neighboring organs due to the adhesions around the remnant stomach, resulting in a low resectability with curative i ntent. The 5-year survival rate after curative resection for advanced GRC was 50.9%. GRC patients without serosal invasion had a good progno sis. Conclusion: Although the survival rate after curative resection f or GRC patients was similar to that of PGC, GRC patients without seros al invasion had a better prognosis. Therefore, early defection is an i mportant way to improve overall, survival in GRC.