ABSTRACT
This restrospective study reviewed 60 cases of histologically documented gastric cancer admitted at the Davao Medical Center. There were 39 (65%) males and 21 (35%) females. Epigastric pain and pallor were the most common initial complaints and findings on admission. Sixty per cent of the patients presented as acid peptic disease and only 40 per cent were correctly diagnosed upon admission. Diagnosis was verified by endoscopy with biopsy in 68.3 per cent of cases. Forty two per cent of the lesions were found at the antrum and 32 per cent were noted in the proximal stomach. Using the TNM staging, 92 per cent had stage III and IV tumor and only 8 per cent were stage II. Most patients underwent palliative surgery (73.3%) with resections for cure limited to 23.3 per cent. Ninety nine per cent were adenocarcinoma, confirmed histopathologically. The associated perioperative complications were noted, with morbidity and mortality rates at 26.67 and 5 per cent, respectively. (Author)