Kinetic changes and experimental carcinogenesis after Billroth I and II gastrectomy.

To determine the risk of gastric remnant cancer according to the type of surgical reconstruction, the distal two-thirds of the glandular stomach was resected in male Wistar rats, followed by gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I anastomosis) or gastrojejunostomy (Billroth II anastomosis). No carcinogens were given and the animals were killed 50 weeks after operation. No cancers developed in 22 rats undergoing Billroth I gastrectomy, but five of 24 with Billroth II anastomosis had adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05). All carcinomas were confined to the stoma. Animals with Billroth II anastomosis had a more advanced grade of mucosal atrophy at the stoma, with a higher incidence of cystic dilatation, submucosal adenocystic proliferation and pseudopyloric metaplasia (P < 0.05). Cell kinetics in the stomal mucosa after Billroth II gastrectomy showed an increased cell count in the proliferative zone, longer duration of S phase and increased cell cycle time (P < 0.05). These results suggest that Billroth II gastrectomy carries a greater risk of cancer than the Billroth I procedure.