[Early gastric carcinoma. Analysis of 21 cases].
BACKGROUND
Early gastric carcinoma (EGC) is defined as a neoplasm confined to the mucosa and submucosa regardless of the presence of metastasis. This lesion is found in approximately 3% of cases in Mexico. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with EGC, emphasizing early detection as the most useful method to decrease mortality.


METHODS
Retrospective review of records of patients with EGC treated at an oncologic referral center over a 12-years period.


RESULTS
Twenty-one cases of EGC were retrieved. Mean age was 58.1 years (range, 33 to 84). Twelve were women and nine, men. Lymph node or distant metastasis were not found. Overall 5-year survival was 66.4%. Twenty patients underwent radical gastrectomy and only one underwent wedge resection of the gastric wall. Two patients (9.5%) presented recurrence and cancer-related death. Mean follow-up was 8.3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis of EGC in our hospital is lower than in countries other than Mexico and this lesion is found with low frequency. Increasing the detection EGC is the best method to reduce GC-related mortality.
Oñate-Ocaña
L F
LF
Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Avenida San Fernando 22, Colonia Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan, C.P. 14000, México D.F. lonate@prodigy.net.mx
Cortés Cárdenas
S
S
Herrera-Goepfert
R
R
Aiello-Crocifoglio
V
V
Mondragón-Sánchez
R
R
Ruiz-Molina
J M
JM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate