Gastric carcinomas are malignant growths that arise from the stomach’s epithelial cells. Most gastric carcinomas can be more specifically described as adenocarcinomas since the tumors typically originate in the glandular epithelium that lines the inside of the stomach.

In fact, as many as 95 percent of all primary stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas. Other types of malignant gastric tumors include, however, squamous cell and adenosquamous carcinomas, lymphomas, carcinoids, and leiomyosarcomas. In the United States, approximately 24,000 people are diagnosed with gastric carcinoma or other form of stomach cancer each year.

Unlike some cancers, such as carcinoma of the lung, that have increased in prevalence over the last century, stomach cancer has become considerably less common since the early 1900s. This welcome change is greatly attributable to the commercial and domestic introduction of the refrigerator, which significantly reduced the popularity of many food preservation techniques, such as smoking, salting, and pickling, which have since been linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer. In parts of the world where refrigeration is not widely available, people continue to be at greater risk for the disease and, consequently, stomach cancer remains a prominent health problem.

Among the most common symptoms of stomach cancer are abdominal pain or discomfort, heartburn, indigestion, bloating, nausea, vomiting (sometimes bringing up blood), loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, and blood in the stool. Due to the vagueness of such symptoms, when a doctor is consulted, he or she generally must order testing, which may include a fecal occult blood test, a gastroscopic exam, and an upper gastrointestinal series, to establish a proper diagnosis. Once stomach cancer is diagnosed, the disease must be staged to determine its extent and determine the best course of treatment.

Treatment for stomach cancer is largely based upon its progression as indicated by the staging process. If the cancer is localized, a partial gastrectomy, which involves the surgical removal of portions of the stomach, is generally the treatment of choice and may result in a permanent cure. More advanced cases of stomach cancer may necessitate the complete removal of the stomach as well as many of the nearby lymph nodes. Severe dietary changes generally are required of those who undergo stomach surgery and intravenous administration of vitamins may be necessary. Patients that are not suited for surgery typically are administered chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of the two.

Gastric Carcinoma at 10x Magnification - Stomach cancer risk factors include alcohol and tobacco use, infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, previous stomach surgery, chronic gastric inflammation, a family history of the disease, and being of the male gender or older than 60 years of age.

Gastric Carcinoma at 20x Magnification - Stomach cancer can be difficult to diagnose because in its early stages the disease may be asymptomatic. When signs do begin to appear, they are easily mistakenly attributed to other, less serious disorders, thus leading individuals to delay seeking medical advice.

Gastric Carcinoma at 10x Magnification - The staging of stomach cancer is complicated, but is generally based on how far the tumor has advanced through the gastric wall and how many lymph nodes have been affected.