[Superficial gastric carcinoma. Clinical analysis].

While in Japan the incidence of superficial gastric cancer (CGS) is very high (35%), with a mean 5-year survival rate of 95%, in our environment it is infrequent. Although the global incidence of gastric cancer is declining, recently, since endoscopy became routine, an increase has been seen in the diagnosis of superficial gastric cancer. In the period between 1976-1982 two cases were diagnosed in our service, but between 1982-1986 the total number of cases found was 23, representing 0.37% of all the endoscopies performed (approx. 6,800) and 8.6% of those diagnostic of gastric cancer (266 cases). Of the lesions, 60.8% were located in the antral region and the most common accompanying symptomatology was ulcerative syndrome (47.3%). The predominant tumoral type was ulcerative (73.9%) (classification of the Japanese Endoscopy Society). The benefits of radiological study were nil, while endoscopic biopsy was diagnostic in 100% after an average of 1.8 (1-4) endoscopies per patient with 6-12 biopsy samples obtained in each endoscopy. Of these 23 patients, 8 underwent total gastrectomy, 14 partial gastrectomy and one refused surgical treatment. The survival was 91.3%, with a follow-up of 6 to 60 months, and two deaths were due to nontumoral causes.