The operative therapy for local recurrence of gastric cancer

About half of the patients with gastric cancer subjected to total gastrecto my in curative intention die of recurrence within a few years, Most of thes e local recurrences occur in the first 2 years postoperatively. In an histo ric analysis 133 patients of the years 1985-1997 were investigated. Local r ecurrence was observed in 29 cases within 60 months on average. An intensiv e follow-up will not affect the long-term outcome of local recurrence. Impr oved results may be expected only if more effective therapeutic strategies for local recurrence will be developed.