title: Early gastric cancer.
abstract: Early gastric cancer confined to the mucosa or submucosa, similar to that described in the Japanese literature, exists in Newfoundland, on area of North America in which gastric cancer is four times more prevalent that on the rest of the continent. If untreated, this early gastric cancer will progress to advanced disease. The clinical presentation of 10 patients suffering from cancer confined to the mucosa and submucosa of the stomach is described. The disease presents with acute or chronic bleeding or unexplained dyspepsia; no abnormality of the stomach can be seen on roentgenograms. The diagnosis may be suspected at endoscopic examination. Cytologic studies using touch preparations may be suggestive but the diagnosis should be confirmed by biopsy before operation is performed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery