[OPERABILITY AND RESECTABILITY OF GASTRIC CANCER:ANALYSIS OF 2280 CASES IN 15 YEARS]

: OBJECTIVES: To determine which are the operability and resectability tendencies of gastric cancer in Peru.BACKGROUND: In Peru, gastric cancer is the first cause of death in men and the third one in women. Most of the patients with gastric cancer receive treatment al the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas of Lima (INEN).PATIENTS AND METHODS: Every patient with untreated histologically verified gastric adenocarcinoma, who was admitted to the INEN between January 1980, and December 1994, was included.We determined the actual trends of operability and resectability. These rates were calculated and compared with rates of the 1952-1977 period.The 1980-1994 period was divided in lustrums to evaluate a more complete preoperative staging act upon operability and resectability.The causes of inoperability and irresectability were also determined.RESULTS: Between 1980 and 1994 a total of 2280 new gastric cancer patients were admitted to the INEN. The operability and resectability rates of the 1980-1994 period (56,8% and 58,5% respectively) differ significantly from rates of the 1952-1977 period (43,8% and 49,2% respectively). A more complete preoperative staging produces a decrease of operability and an increase of resectability.The main causes of inoperability were poor physical condition associated to a locally advanced tumor 34%, and peritoneal metastases 26%. The main causes of irresectability were peritoneal metastases 50,3%, and invasion to adjacent organs 26,7%.CONCLUSIONS: Even when there is an increase of operability and resectability rates, gastric cancer is still diagnosed al a late stage in Peru. It is vital to stage pathology precisely to avoid unnecessary laparotomies.