In the past gastrectomy was mostly used as a treatment for stomach ulcers, however now this procedure is used primarily for cancer of the stomach. Every year in the United States about 25,000 people develop gastric (stomach) cancer. Stomach cancer is more common in Asia and South America. While great strides have occurred in curing this disease much depends on where in the stomach the cancer begins and whether the cancer is found before is spreads outside the stomach.

Anatomy and Physiology

• The stomach is a C-shaped organ that is part of the digestive system and lies under the left lower ribs and left upper part of the abdomen (Figure 1)

Figure 1 - Anatomy of the stomach. The cardia is the upper part of the stomach near the esophagus. The pylorus is at the end of the stomach. Note the relationships of the liver, spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, duodenum and jejunum to the stomach. © N.Gordon