Gastric stump cancer was initially defined as a carcinoma of the stomach occurring more than 5 years after surgery for gastric or duodenal benign disease. In recent years, as the number of total gastrectomy for benign disease has gradually decreased and the gastric cancer detection and operation rate have annually increased, residual recurrence of primary gastric cancer more than 10 years after gastric cancer surgery has also been considered as gastric stump cancer. The incidence of gastric stump cancer is increasing annually. The epidemiological characteristics of this form of cancer are also developing, and they show a higher incidence in males compared to females. The incidence has been affected following digestive tract reconstruction, and the risk increases in patients who undergo Billroth II( reconstruction. The interval of onset is related to the benign and malignant condition of primary disease, and the incidence increases after 10 years of early gastric cancer surgery. Lymph node metastasis pattern in gastric stump cancer is different from that in primary gastric cancer as the primary operation may destroy normal lymph flow. Many factors are known to cause gastric stump cancer, mainly duodenal gastric reflux, Helicobacter pylori infection, and gastric mucosal barrier dysfunction; however, the mechanism is not clear. It is expected to reduce the incidence of gastric stump cancer by taking precautionary measures against different inducements, which also has some guiding significance for the treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer.