[Distribution and frequency of gastric cancer at the para-cardiac region and fornix].

To clarify the distribution and frequency of gastric cancer in the upper third of the stomach, especially in the para-cardiac region and fornix, we reviewed 634 lesions of all gastric cancers in any location in the University Hospital of Tsukuba University from April 1985 to March 1992. The para-cardiac region was defined as a circular area of 6 cm in diameter around the cardia. We found 56 lesions (8.8%) in the para-cardiac region, almost all of which were concentrated in the distal half of the para-cardiac region, and only three of which (0.47%) were in the fornix. Cancer in the upper third of the stomach tended to occur predominantly in aged male patients, and histologically most of them were classified as having differentiated adenocarcinoma. Since the percentage of advanced cancer at the para-cardiac region was much higher than at any other location, we should be careful to obtain double-contrast images of sufficient quality during the upper gastrointestinal examinations and not to overlook subtle changes in this region during the interpretation of films.