Background: We sought to define differences between multifocal and solitary gastric carcinoma to decrease the risk of missing a cancer while resecting another more evident carcinoma.
Methods: We retrospectively examined clinicopathologic characteristics of multifocal gastric carcinoma including anatomic distribution and postoperative survival.
Results: Multifocal gastric carcinoma was seen more frequently when patients were older and when the largest tumor was small and at an early stage. More than half of accessory lesions were located near the main tumor. No significant difference in postoperative survival was seen between patients with multifocal and solitary carcinoma, whether early or advanced.
Conclusions: The entire stomach should be examined carefully before and during resection, especially when local or endoscopic surgery is performed.