Abstract

CORREA, Pelayo. Gastric cancer: an infectious disease. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.2, pp.111-117. ISSN 2011-7582.

Gastric cancer is the first cause of cancer mortality in Colombia. The majority of cases are diagnosed when the malignant cells have already invaded the muscularis, which translates into a five year survival rate of less than 20%. Invasive cancer is preceded by a prolonged precancerous process resulting from Helicobacter pylori infection that starts in childhood. Subsequent stages include multifocal atrophy of the glands, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia. In patients with the diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia one should evaluate the extent of the lesion as well as the degree of differentiation in order to determine adequate management. Although gastric cancer incidence rates have been diminishing in the last decades, just recently an increment of unknown cause has been detected in young persons.

Keywords : stomach; stomach neoplasms; Helicobacter pylori; etiology; chemoprevention; prognosis.

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