Summary:
Gastric cancer refers to cancer arising from any part of the stomach. It causes
about 800,000 deaths worldwide per year and is often asymptomatic. Infection by
Helicobacter Pylori is believed to be the main cause of gastric cancer, while
autoimmune atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and various genetic
factors are associated with high levels of risk.
Many types of cancer can occur in the stomach. However, the most common type is
gastric adenocarcinoma (95%). Several histopathological classifications have
been developed to describe gastric adenocarcinoma. Among these classifications,
the most widely used is the classification by Lauren which separates gastric
adenocarcinoma into one of two major types: intestinal or diffuse. World Health
Organization (WHO) has further categorized adenocarcinoma into five main types.
The main categories are tubular, papillary, mucinous adenocarcinomas, poorly
cohesive (including signet-ring cell type) and mixed carcinomas.
Gastric cancer is difficult to cure unless it is found in an early stage.
Unfortunately because early gastric cancers cause few symptoms, the disease is
usually advanced when the diagnosis is made. Treatment for gastric cancer may
include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
Keywords:
Gastric Cancer, Adenocarcinoma, Classification, Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy
