What is the difference between gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric cancer?

Gastric adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor originating from glandular cells of the gastric mucosa. These cells are originally responsible for secreting digestive juices such as gastric acid and pepsin. The tumor formed after malignant transformation is called gastric adenocarcinoma, which is common in the gastric antrum and pyloric region. Stomach cancer is a broader term that covers all stomach malignancies, including not only adenocarcinoma, but also other types of stomach cancer such as signet-ring cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, etc. These cancers can occur in any part of the stomach. Clinical statistics show that among all types of gastric cancer, the incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma is significantly higher, accounting for the vast majority of gastric cancer cases, usually more than 90%, becoming the most common type of gastric cancer. 3. Pathological features Although gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric carcinoma share some basic malignant features, gastric adenocarcinoma has its own unique pathological characteristics. Pathological examination of gastric adenocarcinoma can clearly observe the abnormal proliferation of gastric glandular epithelial cells, these cells lost their normal morphology and function, showing obvious signs of carcinogenesis, such as nuclear enlargement, nuclear cytoplasmic ratio increased, nuclear mitosis increased.

These changes are characteristic pathological changes of gastric adenocarcinoma and help to distinguish it from other types of gastric cancer.