Early gastric cancer: total gastrectomy vs. distal resection. Results of a study of 271 cases. The Italian Stomach Cancer Group (A.C.O.I.-I.S.C.G.).

Two hundred and seventy-one (271) patients with early gastric cancer from 26 different hospitals were examined in a retrospective study conducted by the I.S.C.G. (Italian Stomach Cancer Group). The patients were divided into two series: the first, comprising 234 patients with negative lymph nodes (Stage ITNM-UICC), had 5-year survival rates of 85%. The second group comprised 37 patients with positive lymph nodes (Stage III TNM-UICC) with a 72% five-year survival rate. Both results appear to be of great significance when compared with the five-year survival rate for advanced gastric cancer, namely 29.3%. As far as the difference between the late results of total gastrectomy and subtotal distal resection are concerned, the latter was associated with a higher five-year survival rate in the case of tumors located in the lower third and in the middle third of the stomach.