A clinicopathological study on carcinoma of the gastric stump, with special reference to mucosal change

Ten carcinomas of the gastric stump reconstructed by Billroth I (one case) and Billroth II (9 cases) methods were treated an average of 20 (range: 7-46) years after partial gastrectomy. Because of highly advanced carcinoma, total gastrectomy with resection of invaded organs was performed. The 5-year survival rate was 33%, and was not different from that in patients with carcinoma of the cardia. Thus, the prognosis of gastric stump carcinoma was not poor if extended radical operation was carried out. The mucosa showed severe atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia or atrophic and hypertrophic gastritis in patients with carcinoma. However, the mucosa was hyperplasia of the glands in almost all patients with stomal ulcer. Thus, our findings suggest that atrophic change with intestinalization plays a role in gastric carcinogenesis.