[Surgical management of locoregional recurrence of gastric carcinoma].

About half of the patients with gastric cancer subjected to total gastrectomy in curative intention die of recurrence within a few years. Most of these local recurrences occur in the first 2 years postoperatively. In an historic analysis 133 patients of the years 1985-1997 were investigated. Local recurrence was observed in 29 cases within 60 months on average. An intensive follow-up will not affect the long-term outcome of local recurrence. Improved results may be expected only if more effective therapeutic strategies for local recurrence will be developed.