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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jcp.2006.045559v1 61/2/172    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pritchard, S A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pritchard, S A Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Stomach Cancer

Best practice in macroscopic examination of gastric resections

Correspondence to:
Dr Susan Anne Pritchard, Consultant Histopathologist, Department of Histopathology, Clinical Sciences Building, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 9LT, UK; susan.pritchard{at}smuht.nwest.nhs.uk

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with a frequency that varies greatly across different geographic locations. Over recent decades there has been a marked increase in cancers of the oesophagogastric junction, but gastric cancers have shown a decrease in worldwide incidence. However, they still account for 3–10% of all cancer-related deaths. There has been a steady improvement in prognosis in countries such as Japan, predominantly due to screening programmes and early detection, but this has not been seen in Europe and North America. At present the only curative treatment for gastric cancer is complete surgical resection of the primary tumour, with appropriate lymphadenectomy. High quality histology reports are necessary to provide information on diagnosis, prognosis and future management. They can also be important with regard to research, audit and epidemiological studies. This review examines the evidence-based guidelines for macroscopic examination and block selection for gastric carcinomas, with a brief comment on new surgical techniques.