Early gastric cancer – comparison of endoscopic stage evaluation, definitive histological stage assessment, treatmant and survival rate

Clinical diagnosis of early gastric cancer was established in 51 of 262 patients with gastric cancer. The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of clinical diagnosis, and to evaluate the terapy and 5-year survival rate in patients with early gastric cancer. We compared clinical diagnosis and histological findings of the resected specimens in 41 out of the 51 cases studied. Early gastric cancers were classified by location, gross appearance and histological type according to Lauren. 27 out of 41 patients had early gastric cancer. 26 patients were treated by surgery and one by endoscopic polypectomy. Their 5-year survival rate was 77,3 %. In view of the fact that early gastric cancer is curable in most cases, screening for the disease is necessary at least in high-risk population groups. Current diagnostic methods do not yet allow for an accurate clinical staging of the disease. Endoscopic ultrasound examination will improve the accuracy of clinical assessment and make local treatment possible in selected patients.