Dilatation of the stomach may be acute or chronic. The acute condition constitutes a distinct disease, and is seldom if ever associated with cancer of the organ.

Chronic dilatation may be obstructive or atonic. As a sequence of cancer of the pylorus or pyloric eud of the stomach obstructive dilatation is quite of common occurence, and calls for treatment, whereas simple atonic dilatation, though sometimes associated with cancer, seldom calls for surgical treatment.