[Gastric cancer in the province of Valdivia (Chile) 1977-1987].

The pathologic records of Hospital Kennedy in Valdivia include 391 cases of gastric cancer between 1977 and 1987, with a yearly incidence of 35 cases. Mean age was 58 years; 97% of males and 93% of females were 40 years or older. Surgery had been undertaken in 70%, with resection performed in 63%. Advanced lesions were found in 83% of cases, with a mean size of 35 cm (vs 15 for early lesions). Complete resection of the first lymph node barrier was performed in 83% of patients, of the second in 7%; and of the third in none. Curative surgery was felt to have been performed in 37% of patients. These data suggest the need for earlier detection of gastric cancer in our population.