Stomach cancer following gastric surgery for benign disease
S. H. Dougherty, C. A. Foster and M. M. Eisenberg
The records of 1,079 patients with gastric carcinoma were reviewed. Of
these, only 21 (about 2%) had had previous gastric surgery for benign
disease, usually peptic ulcer. The average interval between the original
gastric surgery and the discovery of stomach cancer was 26.9 years. The
symptoms of cancer presentation were not distinguishable from other forms
of the postgastrectomy syndrome. Gastric cancer tended to develop in these
patients during the sixth decade of life, irrespective of when they had had
their original gastric surgery, strongly suggesting an age-related factor.
Although it would appear that previous gastric surgery for benign disease
is not a major risk factor for the subsequent development of gastric
cancer, such a relationship may exist. Patients who have undergone
gastrectomy should be followed up carefully for the recurrence of symptoms.
