The prognosis of Borrmann type IV gastric cancer is poorer than that of the other gastric carcinomas. We compared the clinicopathological features of Borrmann type IV gastric cancer with those of other types of cancer and analyzed the significance of a Borrmann type IV carcinoma as a prognostic factor.

We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic features, TNM stage and survival rates of 4,389 gastric cancer patients who received surgical management at Samsung Medical Center between January 1995 and December 2004.

Patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma had a more advanced stage than patients with other types of gastric carcinomas at the initial diagnosis, and the curative resection rate was lower. The 5-year survival rate of patients with Borrmann type IV cancer was 20.7%, and that of patients with other types of cancer was 50.3%. The 5-year survival rate of patients with Borrmann type IV gastric carcinomas was significantly lower than that of patients with other types of gastric carcinomas at the same TNM stage. In univariate and multivariate analyses, the depth of invasion, the nodal state, distant metastasis, the TNM stage, curability and the presence of a Borrmann type IV carcinoma were independent prognostic factors in cases of gastric cancer.

Compared to the other types of gastric carcinomas, a Borrmann type IV carcinoma has unique clinicopathological features. The prognosis should be predicated considering the differences between Borrmann type IV gastric carcinomas and other types of gastric carcinomas, and multimodal and intensive therapies are needed in patients with a Borrmann type IV gastric carcinoma.