Cáncer gástrico perforado: estudio clínico-morfológico y pronóstico

Abstract

Background: Perforation is an unusual presentation of gastric cancer. There is disagreement about its prognosis and treatment. Aim: To describe the clinical, morphological, therapeutic and prognostic features of perforated gastric cancer. Material and Methods: Reviewing the registry of a pathology laboratory in a general hospital, 13 patients with perforated gastric cancer, aged 48 to 75 years and operated in a period of 20 years, was identified. The medical records of these patients were reviewed and eventual deaths were identified using death certificates. Results: A gastrectomy was performed in 9 cases and lymph node dissection in six. Seventy eight percent were T4 tumors and all patients in whom a lymph node dissection was done, had lymph node involvement. In 10 cases, the preoperative diagnoses were a perforated peptic ulcer. Mean global survival was six months. The figures for patients subjected or not subjected to gastrectomy were 21.5 and 3.7 months, respectively (p < 0.01). One of five patients subjected to emergency surgery, died. Conclusions: Perforation occurs usually in advanced stages of gastric cancer and older patients. In this report those patients subjected to gastrectomy have a better survival.