Proximal gastrectomy as the surgical procedure of choice for upper gastric carcinoma.

To assess the efficacy of proximal gastrectomy in the treatment of upper gastric carcinoma, we analyzed clinical data from patients with lesions confined to the upper third of the stomach (group 1) and from patients with lesions which, while primarily located in the upper portion of the stomach, showed spread to the body of the stomach (group 2). Patients in group 2 showed more metastatic lymph node involvement, particularly of the infrapyloric lymph nodes, which were not included in lymphadenectomy accompanying proximal gastrectomy. None of the group 1 patients demonstrated metastasis to the infrapyloric lymph nodes. The postoperative 5-year survival rate in curatively operated group 1 patients was not significantly different between those treated by proximal gastrectomy and those subjected to total gastrectomy. We conclude that proximal gastrectomy is indicated in patients with upper gastric carcinoma when it is confined to the upper third of the stomach.