Gastric cancer in young patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to see the clinical, pathological, and demographic profile of young patients with stomach carcinoma besides association with p53.

Patients And Methods: Prospective study of young patients with stomach carcinoma from January 2005 to December 2009. A total of 50 patients with age less than 40 years were studied.

Results: Male female ratio was 1 : 1.08 in young patients and 2.5 : 1 in older patients. A positive family history of stomach cancer in the first degree relatives was present in 10% of young patients. Resection was possible only in 50% young patients. 26% young patients underwent only palliative gastrojejunostomy. The most common operation was lower partial gastrectomy in 68%. Amongst the intraoperative findings peritoneal metastasis was seen in 17.4% in young patients. 50% young patients presented in stage IV as per AJCC classification (P value .004; sig.). None of the patients presented as stage 1 disease in young group.

Conclusion: Early detection of stomach carcinoma is very important in all patients but in young patients it is of paramount importance.