Late precancerous changes and carcinoma of the gastric stump after Billroth I resection.

Carcinoma of the gastric remnant after resection for benign ulcers is regarded as a rare complication after Billroth I resection. In seventy-four patients reexamined by gastroscopy and multiple biopsies ten to twenty-two years after gastric resection four cases of cancer of the gastric stump were diagnosed and the patients operated on. Another eight patients had regenerative polyps and one patient had a tubular adenoma. The histologic findings in gastroscopic biopsy specimens from the gastric stoma and fundus are compared. Possible precancerous changes and etiologic aspects are discussed briefly. Repeated gastroscopy is recommended starting about ten years after gastric resection for benign ulcers.