What is the most common type of stomach cancer?

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of stomach cancer, accounting for approximately 90-95% of all gastric cancer cases. This type of cancer originates from the glandular cells of the stomach lining and is often associated with risk factors such as chronic gastritis, infection with Helicobacter pylori, smoking, and certain dietary factors.

The predominance of adenocarcinoma in the stomach is significant in understanding gastric cancer pathology, as it influences screening, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. While other types of tumors, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, and lymphoma, can occur in the stomach, they are far less common. For instance, gastrointestinal stromal tumors arise from interstitial cells of Cajal or precursor cells and represent a small fraction of gastric tumors. Neuroendocrine tumors, also known as carcinoid tumors, are very rare and arise from neuroendocrine cells in the stomach. Similarly, primary gastric lymphomas are relatively uncommon and mostly associated with chronic inflammation or infections, such as those caused by H. pylori.

Thus, identifying adenocarcinoma as the most prevalent form of gastric malignancy is crucial for clinicians and pathologists when considering patient evaluation and management approaches for suspected