Actualización en cáncer gástrico

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common gastrointestinal neoplasm. Despite a declining incidence in recent years, it is the third leading cause of death due to cancer in the world. Histologically, the most frequent GC is adenocarcinoma. It is related to multiple factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis, and pernicious anemia. Symptoms of the disease appear in advanced stages and are nonspecific, which contributes to a late diagnosis. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy collection is the diagnostic method of choice and the first test to be performed when GC is suspected. The extension study should be performed using other tests, such as computed tomography (CT), echoendoscopy, or positron emission tomography combined with CT. Surgical resection with a lymphadenectomy is the mainstay of curative treatment in the absence of metastatic disease; increased survival has been demonstrated when it is combined with the use of perioperative chemotherapy. Endoscopic resection techniques such as mucosal resection and, mainly, submucosal dissection can be curative in select cases of early gastric cancer.