Despite the fact that the incidence of gastric cancer is declining in
the Western world, it remains a significant problem with respect to
accurate diagnosis and treatment since it has a high mortality rate. In
June 1989 an International Conference was held at the University of Rome
"La Sapienza" entitled "New Trends in Gastric Cancer: Background and
videosurgery". During this meeting background information on the
aetiopathogenesis of gastric cancer was presented together with talks
and video presentations on the latest advances in the treatment of
gastric carcinoma, both from the European and Japanese experience.
Because of the poor prognosis of gastric carcinoma there is increasing
pressure for early detection. Some of the problems in the early
detection of gastric carcinoma are discussed together with methods of
surveillance of high-risk subjects. It is generally accepted that the
surgical approach to gastric carcinoma should take into account the site
and extent of the lesion and there are chapters on new methods for pre
and intraoperative staging of the disease which allow a more logical
approach to surgery. A comparison between Japanese and Western rule and
results was attempted and reasons for the differences were investigated.
Since the field is still evolving not all aspects could be covered, and
those angles not approached in this book will be addressed in a second
International Conference to be held in Rome in June 1990.