Gastric carcinoma in patients younger than age 36 years.

The clinical and pathologic features of 18 patients with gastric carcinoma younger than age 36 years were studied. Of these patients, 36.8% were Hispanics of Mexican origin. Eighteen percent of the Mexican population with gastric carcinoma were younger than 36 years as compared to 2.8% of the overall population (P less than 0.05). Fifty percent of the gastric ulcers in the Mexican population were malignant as compared to 6% in the non-Mexican population (P less than 0.05). In addition, a subset of aggressive carcinomas were found. Patients presenting with symptoms of less than 6 months' duration had a survival of less than 6 months, compared to the less aggressive subset, in which patients had symptoms for greater than 6 months and survived longer than 6 months. Racial, environmental influences, or selection bias may account for the differences in gastric carcinoma in the Mexican and non-Mexican population. Factors contributing to a more aggressive form of carcinoma are unclear and require further study.