Pathology of Gastric Carcinoma in Japanese Populations: Comparisons Between Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and Hawaii 2

Abstract

The pathology and related epidemiologic aspects of gastric cancer in Japanese populations of Japan and Hawaii were studied through data and specimens from 407 cases in Miyagi prefecture, Japan, and 256 cases in Hawaii. The estimated incidence rates for diffuse carcinomas were the same in both localities, but the corresponding rates for intestinal, mixed, and other (IMO) types were substantially lower in Hawaii. The slopes of the IMO incidence curves were similar in the 4 subgroups considered, but the curves were displaced horizontally to the right (to older ages) in Hawaii as compared to Japan and in females as compared to males. The slope of the incidence curves for diffuse were less steep than for IMO types and did not exhibit horizontal displacement. The slopes and displacement of the type-specific incidence curves can be reconciled with the variation in sex ratios by age observed in Japan and Hawaii. An association with blood group A in the Japanese populations studied was limited to diffuse-type tumors.