These results suggest that the main factor underlying color change in type IIb early gastric cancers may be the number of capillaries in the lesions, in comparison with the adjacent mucosa. Whether the lesion is visible on endoscopy, however, depends more on its size than on the number of capillaries.

This study concerns the definition of carcinoma of the gastric cardia. The topography of the esophagogastric mucosal junction (mucosal EGJ) was investigated with an endoscope in 182 patients who were free of hiatal hernias, ulcers, and neoplasms in the esophagus and stomach. The relationship between the EGJ and the cardiac gland area was then examined histologically in 56 resected specimens containing intact EGJs and cardia gland areas. Furthermore the cancerous center was determined; the shortest distance between the cancerous center and the EGJ and the amount of esophageal invasion were measured in 102 resected carcinomas located close to the junction; the carcinomas contained the EGJ and were good enough for pathohistological examination. The EGJ was located 0.5 - 1.0 cm proximal to the His angle (the gastric cardia) in radiological and endoscopic examinations. Histologically the cardiac gland area was found to straddle the EGJ at a range of about 1 cm proximal and 2 cm distal to the junction. Among the upper stomach carcinomas, most of the tumors (87.5%) whose center was located within 2 cm from the EGJ invaded the esophagus. In conclusion, carcinoma of the gastric cardia is defined as a lesion with its center located within 1 cm proximal and 2 cm distal to the EGJ.

The expression of blood group-related antigens, A, B, H type 2, Lewis type 1 (Lewis(a) [Le(a)] and Lewis(b) [Le(b)]), Lewis type 2 (Lewis(x) [Le(x)] and Lewis(y) [Le(y)]), sialylated Le(a) (CA19-9), and sialylated Le(x) (CSLEX1), was analyzed sequentially with immunohistochemical methods in early gastric cancer, intestinal metaplasia, and uninvolved gastric mucosa obtained from 35 surgical specimens of patients who underwent gastrectomy. The high incidence of the inappropriate expression of Lewis type 1 antigens and the deletion of H and Lewis type 2 antigens was observed similarly in patients with cancer and intestinal metaplasia. The acquisition of CA19-9 and CSLEX1 and the deletion of B antigen frequently were found in intestinal-type cancer and all types of intestinal metaplasia. The simultaneous deletion of A antigen was detected only in the combination of intestinal-type cancer and incomplete-type intestinal metaplasia. Thus the present study shows that similar changes of tissue antigenicities exist in early gastric cancer and intestinal metaplasia.

To evaluate the role of Lugol dye endoscopy in diagnosing early esophageal cancer, we reviewed findings of dye endoscopy and those of conventional endoscopy in 17 early esophageal cancers that were demonstrated as unstained areas on dyeing with Lugol solution. Histologically, all 17 lesions were squamous cell carcinomas; 10 lesions being mucosal carcinomas, the remaining 7 lesions mucosal carcinomas spreading beyond the epithelial layer. The lesions ranged from 0.7 to 4.0 cm in size. Abnormal findings were noted under conventional endoscopy in all but 3 lesions diagnosed only by postoperative pathohistology, regardless of the size and depth of the invasion. Under conventional endoscopy, the following types of morphological changes were noted in 8 (57.1%) of the 14 lesions: slight elevation (1 lesion), depression (6 lesions), and deformed arc (1 lesion). A color change was noted endoscopically in 12 of the 14 lesions (85.7%), this change being redness in all 12 lesions. The unstained area on the resected specimen was consistent with the size of the lesion that was determined by using serially sectioned blocks in all cases. Moreover, the former completely (100%) coincided with the histological area where PAS reaction was weak. In conclusion, under conventional endoscopy, a color change such as redness is an important indicator of minute or superficial esophageal cancer, as is such morphological change as depression, elevation or deformed arc. On the other hand, Lugol dye endoscopy is very helpful in detecting esophageal cancer unassociated with any morphological or color change. It also provides accurate information about the extent of the cancer.

No abstract

Three hundred and sixty-five biopsies under direct vision, using a fibergastroscope, were performed on 339 patients with gastric cancer from 1966 to 1975. Diagnostic accuracy improved with an increased in the number of biopsy specimens and reached 100% when 6 or more biopsy specimens were obtained. Positive specimens were obtained with 48.5% of the biopsied tissue from the center of the lesion (A), 52.2% from the inner margin of the lesion (B1), 19.6% from the outer margin of the lesion (B2), and 1.6% from the area around the lesion (C). The combined result of the biopsies from A and B1 was highly positive in 49 out of 51 cases (96.1%). Diagnostic accuracy of the early cancer reached 96.9%. This was significantly higher than that of advanced cancer (80.3%). False negative biopsies were found in 51 (16.3%) of the 313 patients who were gastrectomized and diagnosed by histological examinations. Twenty-three of the 27 patients, who were diagnosed as benign either by x-ray or endoscopic examination, and 4 of the 5 patients who were diagnosed as benign under both examinations, were found to have positive results by biopsy. Positive biopsy examination was particularly helpful with patients showing on inconclusive or benign diagnosis by x-ray and/or endoscopic examinations.

A morphologic histochemical study of phosphorylase was carried out to investigate the relationship between gastric carcinoma and intestinal metaplasia. Intense phosphorylase activity was observed in the carcinoma cells, especially in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, and in the proliferating cells of some intestinal metaplasias. Metaplastic epithelium other than the proliferating cells occasionally showed a positive reaction. Phosphorylase was negative in normal gastric epithelium, even in its proliferating cells. There was an apparent coincidence between the location of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and the distribution of intestinal metaplasia, with the proliferating cells showing positive reaction for phosphorylase. These data suggest that the relationship between the proliferating cells of intestinal metaplasia showing phosphorylase activity and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma is apparently closer than the much-debated relationship between the epithelium of intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma.

Percutaneous transhepatic bile drainage was performed in 13 patients with obstructive jaundice, using a combination of the PTC technique and a Seldinger angiography catheter. In 11 cases, the outflow of bile through the catheter was satisfactory and complications were few. Since the risk of the procedure is low and it can be done without laparotomy, it is an ideal technic for biliary decompression before attempting to do a resection. Also, repeated cholangiography through a catheter which is left in place is helpful as a diagnostic aid before and after surgery.