Cancer of the gastric stump: Analyses of 819 patients and comparison with other stomach cancer patients

The clinical characteriscics and prognosis of 819 patients with cancer in a previously resected stomach are described. The data were obtained from the Cancer Registry of Norway from the period 1970–1979. Median age was 69.2 years (range 31–91), with a male‐to‐female ratio of 4.4:1. The predominant symptoms were general weakness, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia; the majority of patients had a short duration of symptoms. The median cime interval from the primary operation to cancer diagnosis was 28.7 years. Twenty‐one percent of the patients had localized disease; 25%, regional disease; and 39%, distant metastatic disease. In 15% of the patients the stage of the disease could not be ascertained. The resectability rate was 41%, with a postoperative mortality rate of 11%. The overall 5‐year survival was 10%, but 40% for patients with localized disease having a resection. Pacients younger than 40 at the primary operation had a 5‐year survival of 14% as compared to 7% for those older than 40 (p< 0.001). Pacients younger than 70 at cancer diagnosis had a 5‐year survival of 13% as compared to 7% for those older than 70 (p< 0.001). Analyses showed that the apparent poor prognosis for patients with stomach stump cancer relacive to patients with other stomach cancer was due to differences in patient characteristics, and when corrected for these variables, the 2 populations had the same prognosis.