Characteristics and consequences of missed gastric cancer: A multicentric cohort study

Abstract Background Missed gastric cancer (MGC) is poorly documented in Mediterranean populations. Aims (1) To assess the rate, predictors and survival of MGC. (2) To compare MGC and non-MGC tumors. Methods This is a retrospective-cohort study conducted at four centers. MGC was defined as cancer detected within three years after negative esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Gastric adenocarcinomas diagnosed between 2008–2015 were included. Patients with no follow-up were excluded. Results During the study period 123,395 esophagogastroduodenoscopies were performed, with 1374 gastric cancers being diagnosed (1.1%). A total of 1289 gastric cancers were finally included. The overall rate of MGC was 4.7% (61/1289, 3.7–6%). A negative esophagogastroduodenoscopy in MGC patients was independently associated with PPI therapy (p  Conclusion MGC accounted for nearly five percent of newly-diagnosed gastric adenocarcinomas. Overall survival was poor and not different between MGC and non-MGC.