EARLY GASTRIC-CANCER IN THE PROVINCE OF FORLI - FOLLOW-UP OF 337 PATIENTS IN A HIGH-RISK REGION FOR GASTRIC-CANCER

Long-term clinical outcome was analysed in a series of 337 patients wi th early gastric cancer (EGC) at a median follow-up of 8 years. Tumour s were classified according to the macroscopic and microscopic criteri a proposed by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy (J SGE) and Lauren, respectively. Type of penetration (PEN) was classifie d according to Kodama. Overall survival rate was 92% at 5 years and 88 % at 8 years and was significantly related to depth, type of penetrati on, lymph node status and tumour size. A significantly lower 5-year su rvival (p<0.05) was observed for patients with lymph node metastases a nd PEN A type EGC (55%) or for those with node-positive tumours and su bmucosal wall penetration (58%) than for the other pathologic subgroup s. Therefore, these two subgroups should be considered as advanced gas tric cancer patients from the prognostic point of view. Moreover, mult ivariate analysis by Cox regression model showed the degree of lymph n ode involvement and Kodama's type PEN A as the only independent progno stic factors.