A four-point fixation method for the resection of early gastric cancer, with particular reference to the analysis of cases of incomplete resection.

We developed a four-point fixation method for the resection of gastric lesions. The aim of the present study was to compare the characteristics of early gastric cancer between the complete-resection group (56 patients) and the incomplete-resection group (10 patients). The results showed that the incomplete-resection group included a significantly higher proportion of patients with large lesions and patients in whom the lesion was located at the body or lesser curvature of the stomach. These results were similar to those previously reported for treatment with conventional strip biopsy. However, in contrast to conventional strip biopsy, relatively few patients with depressed-type gastric cancer were included in the incomplete-resection group. This is considered one of the most important features of the four-point fixation method.