| [ Summary ] |
Incidences of cardiac cancer developing at the esophagogastric junction account for less than 5 % of all of gastric cancer in Japan. In Western countries, the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia has risen rapidly in contrast to the remarkable decrease of H. pylori infection from the 1970's. The background mucosa associated with cardia cancer is different in the areas 2 cm up or 2 cm down from the esophagogastric junction. Preneoplastic lesions in the upper regions are considered to be Barrett's esophagus, which is induced by gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD). These in the lower portion are termed carditis, which is induced by H. pylori infection. The majority of cardia cancer in Japan develops in the lower part of the esophagogastric junction, thus eradication of H. pylori will not directly produce an increase in rates of cardia cancer. |