Stomach cancer following gastric surgery for benign disease.

The records of 1,079 patients with gastric carcinoma were reviewed. Of these, only 21 (about 2%) had had previous gastric surgery for benign disease, usually peptic ulcer. The average interval between the original gastric surgery and the discovery of stomach cancer was 26.9 years. The symptoms of cancer presentation were not distinguishable from other forms of the postgastrectomy syndrome. Gastric cancer tended to develop in these patients during the sixth decade of life, irrespective of when they had had their original gastric surgery, strongly suggesting an age-related factor. Although it would appear that previous gastric surgery for benign disease is not a major risk factor for the subsequent development of gastric cancer, such a relationship may exist. Patients who have undergone gastrectomy should be followed up carefully for the recurrence of symptoms.