[Metastasis of gastric cancer: influence of the localization of the primary tumor].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of location in the stomach on the finding of detectable metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosed in a our hospital from 1981 to 1990.


METHODS
Four hundred fifty four patients with gastric adenocarcinoma have been analyzed. In order to assess the presence of metastasis, we reviewed the imaging studies, the surgical description and the pathological records.


RESULTS
Significant differences were not found regarding age, sex or diagnosis delay in patients with or without metastasis. The patients with tumours diffusely affecting the stomach had the greatest incidence of metastasis (hepatic, peritoneal or other) (p < 0.05). On the contrary, patients with tumours in the distal third of the stomach showed the least incidence of metastasis of any location (p < 0.05). Besides, patients with tumours in the distal third showed a progressive decrease in the presence of hepatic metastasis as delay in diagnosis increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study suggest that tumours in the distal third of the stomach have a less aggressive metastatical dissemination than those in other locations of the stomach.
Casariego Vales
E
E
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Complexo Hospitalario Xeral-Calde, Lugo.
Pita Fernández
S
S
Rabuñal Rey
R
R
López Roses
L
L
Vázquez Rodríguez
O
O
Castiñeira Pérez
M C
MC
Gestal Otero
J
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary*
Metástasis por cáncer gástrico: influencia de la localización del tumor primitivo.