Carcinoma of the gastric stump after operation for benign gastroduodenal ulcer.

A series of 36 patients with gastric stump carcinoma is presented. The average time interval between previous operation and diagnosis of carcinoma was 28 1/2 years. The interval was greater with lower age at gastric resection. The stump cancer occurs at the same age, and gives the same symptoms, as gastric carcinoma in general. 17 of the 36 patients were treated by total, or subtotal, gastrectomy. Three patients lived more than 5 years, two of them without recurrence. With surgical treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers in younger patients, more physiological operation methods, such as selective vagotomy, should replace gastric resection, as this would probably reduce the risk of later cancer development. After a time interval of 15 years from gastric resection, all patients should be examined by X-ray and gastroscopy at regular intervals.