The aim of the study was to determine the quality of life (QOL) in long term survivors after resection for gastric cancer (subtotal gastrectomy-STG - versus total gastrectomy - TG). The study was performed on a group of 54 patients operated with intention of radicality, followed up for a period of 10 years, and who responded to a questionnaire similar to the international EORTC and ECO6. The QOL was found to be significantly better after STG than after TG for gastric carcinoma. Because operative mortality is greater and long-term survival is not better after TG than after STG, the latter is recommended as the treatment of choice for tumors of the distal stomach when a safety margin can be obtained dismissing the "de principe" total gastrectomy. This imperative should never be allowed by compromising the radicality of the surgical act.
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