Is the follow-up of patients operated on for gastric carcinoma of benefit to the patient?
In patients operated on for gastric carcinoma, the main purpose of a follow-up program is to diagnose recurrent disease and initiate treatment at an early stage. One hundred and ninety-seven consecutive patients were studied, 43 of whom had not received a resection (27%). Resections were carried out in 144 patients, in either palliative (N = 20), or curative (N = 122) intent. The follow-up program included visits to the outpatient clinic at one month, six months, one year, and every year during the five post-operative years. Shorter intervals were employed as indicated by the functional or general status of the patients. One patient has been lost to follow-up. In palliative surgery, median survival was 3 months in patients undergoing laparotomy, 6 months following palliative surgery without resection, and 8 months following palliative resection. In patients who underwent curative resection, 65 are still alive without recurrent disease (57%). Thirty-six of them have been followed-up for more than 5 years. Seven patients died without recurrence. Of 42 patients with recurrence, 10 underwent a reoperation. The only resection was performed for liver metastasis. This patient died 14 months later. Survival in the 9 other patients did not exceed 6 months. This experience suggests that a follow-up program of patients operated on for gastric carcinoma is disappointing.
Huguier
M
M
Department of Surgery, Hôpital Tenon, Université Paris, France.
Houry
S
S
Lacaine
F
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010166:Palliative Care; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate