Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the role of duodenogastric reflux in the genesis of gastric stump carcinoma in the rat. Carcinoma was not detected in any of the 11 control animals and in only one animal with a Roux diversion. In contrast seven of 12 animals with duodenogastric reflux developed carcinoma (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05 respectively). In order to determine which fraction of the reflux was implicated in the malignant process, animals with reflux of bile alone or pancreaticoduodenal secretions alone were studied. No carcinomas were found in 11 animals with bile reflux alone, but carcinoma was detected in 10 of 14 animals with reflux of pancreaticoduodenal secretions (p less than 0.01). The findings confirm that duodenogastric reflux is an important factor in the malignant process, and imply that the pancreaticoduodenal component, not bile is responsible.