[Early gastric adenocarcinoma].

Aim: the purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical behaviour of the superficial adenocarcinoma of the stomach, to clarify its pathological characteristics, its therapy and prognosis.

Methods: Over a period of 14 years (1990-2004), 16 patients were operated for a superficial gastric adenocarcinoma among 155 gastric cancers treated during the same period in the service of general surgery "A" La Rabta.

Results: The superficial gastric adenocarcinoma represented 10.3% of our series. The mean age was 59 years, 8 men and 8 women. Two patients were followed for a chronic stomach ulcer, a patient is followed for Biermer anaemia and another one for Menetrier disease. Among these cancers, 12 were intra mucosal and 4 invaded the submucousa. Lymph node involvement was present only in one case. The cancer was located in the antrum in 8 cases and was multifocal in 3 cases. One patient died in postoperative case because of a medical cause. The 5-year-overall survival was 65,6%. The recurrence had interested only one patient.

Conclusion: the superficial gastric adenocarcinoma is rare. The follow up of precancerous states allows its diagnosis. The treatment is based on the gastric resection associated to the D1-type lymph node clearance. The multifocal character imposes a surveillance of the remaining gastric stump.