Clinical study on reservation of part of stomach for patients with cardiac cancer of the gastric stump

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of the resection of the cardia and fundus for patients suffering from cardiac cancer of the gastric stump. METHODS: Twenty-five patients suffering from cardiac cancer with a mean period of 13 years and 3 months after subtotal gastrectomy were included in this study. Their average age was 59.1 years. Among them, 19 patients got exploratory thoracotomy. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients, 1 was inoperable, 1 underwent resection of the gastric stump and esophagojejunostomy because of his huge tumor, 17 underwent resection of the cardia and fundus of the gastric stump and accepted gastroesophagostomy (9 were subjected to tunnel gastroesophagostomy and 8 to end-to-end esophagogastrostomy). The largest tumor was 5 cm x 4 cm in size. Except for a death resulting from intestinal obstruction following operation, the others attained a good recovery. The longest period of survival was 4.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of the cardia and fundus and gastroesophagostomy can be carried out for patients suffering from cardiac cancer of the gastric stump. The method is in line with the principle of the conservation surgery.