Published online Jul 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i27.8358
Peer-review started: February 26, 2015
First decision: March 26, 2015
Revised: April 7, 2015
Accepted: May 21, 2015
Article in press: May 21, 2015
Published online: July 21, 2015
Processing time: 148 Days and 0.3 Hours
AIM: To investigate the incidence and distribution of second primary cancers (SPCs) in early gastric cancer (EGC) patients who underwent endoscopic resection (ER), compared to advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients who underwent surgery.
METHODS: The medical records of 1021 gastric cancer (GC) patients were retrospectively reviewed from January 2006 to December 2010. The characteristics and incidence of SPCs were investigated in those with EGC that underwent curative ER (the EGC group) and those with AGC who underwent curative surgical resection (the AGC group).
RESULTS: We ultimately enrolled 184 patients in the EGC group and 229 patients in the AGC group. A total of 38 of the 413 (9.2%) GC patients had SPCs; the rate was identical in both groups. Of these 38 patients, 18 had synchronous and 20 had metachronous cancers. The most common SPC was lung cancer (18.4%), followed by colorectal cancer (13.2%) and esophageal cancer (13.2%). No significant risk factors were identified for the development of SPCs.
CONCLUSION: Endoscopists should provide close surveillance and establish follow-up programs to ensure SPC detection in GC patients undergoing curative resection regardless of their clinical characteristics.
Core tip: In this study, we investigate the incidence and distribution of second primary cancers (SPCs) in early gastric cancer (EGC) patients who underwent endoscopic resection (ER) compared to advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery. Although SPCs developed rather commonly in gastric cancer patients, no significant risk factors were identified for their development. Therefore, endoscopists should perform close surveillance and establish follow-up programs for SPC detection after use of ER to treat EGC.