In this study, early
gastric cancer in the region of the fundic gland was found to occur predominantly in women. Many lesions of this type were identified in the posterior wall of the middle portion of the stomach. Histologically, the lesions were classified as poorly differentiated
carcinomas in all cases of early
cancer. On the other hand, in 9 patients with
cancer of
linitis plastica type having IIc lesions (less than 2.0 cm in diameter) located in the region of the fundic gland, the
tumor focus was also in the posterior wall of the middle portion of the stomach. Giant folds were present diffusely in all other portions of the gastric mucosa in these latter cases. These cases also had diffuse infiltration of
cancer cells into the submucosa, muscle layer and extraserosal regions. Histologically, the lesions were classified, in all cases of
linitis plastica type, as poorly differentiated
carcinomas including signet ring cells.
Acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPS) and
sialic acid were histochemically detected in the interstitial tissues of early gastric
carcinomas and
linitis plastica type
gastric cancers. The AMPS digestion rates were higher for early
cancer tissue. The present results support the hypothesis that early
gastric cancer in the region of the fundic gland may occur in conditions favorable to
tumor growth and may develop into
cancer of
linitis plastica type.