Abstract: Objective To investigate the influencing factors for indication of total gastrectomy in radical resection for carcinoma of stomach.Methods 609 patients from the Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University with radical resection for carcinoma of stomach were studied and classified into the total gastrectomy group, which were 273 after total gastrectomy and the partial resection group which were 336 after partial resection.The data were compared between two groups such as tumor position, tumor size, Borrmann, differentiation type, distance from cutting edge to tumor and lymph node metastasis.Results The survival time of the partial resection group was obviously longer than the total gastrectomy group(χ²=5.183, P＜0.05).The preoperative data of partial resection group was better than total gastrectomy group in Karnofsky and ECOG, while total gastrectomy group better in Goldman(P＜0.05).There were significant differences of the size of tumor, lymph node metastasis and the areas of infiltration between two groups(P＜0.01).The total gastrectomy group was associated with the distance from cutting edge to tumor and differentiation type(P＜0.05).Conclusion The total gastrectomy can′t guarantee a prolonged survival.The determinative factors of total gastrectomy included big lump, lymph node metastasis and abroad areas of infiltration, ect.Nutriture and cardiorespiratory function were important in total gastrectomy.