ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: T2 gastric cancer is tumor invading proper muscle or subserosal layer. The 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer subdivided the pT2 gastric adenocarcinoma into a type pT2a (invasion of the proper muscle) and a type pT2b (invasion of the subserosa). The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between pT2a and pT2b gastric cancers of the clinicopathological features and the prognostic factors. METHODS: A series of curative operations were performed on 194 patients with pT2 gastric cancer from January 1999 to February 2006. We reviewed, retrospectively, the clinicopathologic characteristics, the 3-year disease free survival and the 5-year disease specific survival rates. RESULTS: There were significant clinicopathologic differences between pT2a and pT2b gastric cancer in tumor size and the number of metastatic lymph nodes. Both of the 3-year disease free survival time and the 5-year disease specific survival time were much longer for the pT2a gastric carcinoma patients than those for the pT2b gastric carcinoma patients. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider the differences between pT2a and pT2b gastric cancers for prediction of recurrence or prognosis. Furthermore, new staging of pT2a and pT2b cancer may be necessary.