[Cancer of the stomach in Siena and province. Clinical, epidemiologic, endoscopic and bioptic findings].

Hundred-nine patients suffering from stomach cancer of 2398 oesophago-gastroduodenoscopies performed in the period 1977-1986 have been considered. The frequency of advanced stomach cancer and early stomach cancer with respect to total endoscopies was respectively 4.5% and 0.36%, which is in agreement with the literature. The results of the study show that Siena and its province present a downward trend in this condition and current rates are two cases out of 100,000 inhabitants. Meantime, careful clinical observation of patients with stomach Ca. shows the absolute lack of predictive symptoms in the early stages and the considerable importance of endoscopy in diagnosis.