Pattern of lymph node metastasis and extent of lymphadenectomy for distal gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze lymph node (LN) metastasis patterns and determine the appropriate extent of LN dissection in distal-third gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 545 patients with distal third gastric cancer undergoing radical operation in the Fujian Provincial Hospital between 2001 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. The metastasis rate for each LN station was analyzed stratified by the depth of tumor invasion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of LN metastasis in this cohort was 38.2% (208/545). LN metastasis rate in mucosal cancer was 2.0% (2/99) and involved LNs were limited to station 1 LN stations. LN metastasis rate in submucosal cancer was 18.9% (18/95), significantly higher than that in mucosal cancer (P<0.01). The metastasis rates to groups No.7, 8 and 9 in station 2 were 5.3% (5/94), 3.2% (3/94), and 1.1% (1/89) respectively. In addition, 3 cases (3.2%) had metastasis in station 2 outside the range of groups 7, 8 and 9 including groups No.1, 11p and 12. Gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria or deeper layers showed an significant increased rate of metastasis (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>D1 dissection seems to be sufficient for mucosal cancer. Standard D2 dissection should be performed for cancers of the muscularis propria or deeper. For submucosal cancer, an extended D1+ dissection is required for complete removal of metastatic nodes.</p>

Analysis of prognostic factors in lymph node-negative advanced gastric cancer patients / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prognostic factors of lymph node-negative advanced gastric cancer patients in order to guide adjunctive therapy and surveillance tragedy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 236 advanced gastric cancer patients with no less than 12 retrieved lymph nodes and without lymph node metastasis from Fujian Provincial Hospital between 1998 and 2008 were collected retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate prognostic analysis were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two hundred and twenty-four patients(94.9%) were followed up and 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 75.2% and 66.4% respectively. Univariate prognostic analysis showed that depth of infiltration, Lauren histotype and retrieved lymph nodes were associated with 5-year overall survival(all P<0.05). Multivariate prognostic analysis testified that depth of infiltration was independent prognostic predictor(P<0.05). Recurrent rates of T2 and T3 patients were 5.8%(8/138) and 14.0%(12/86),5-year overall survival rates were 82.5% and 59.0%, 5-year disease-free survival rates were 70.4% and 52.2% respectively. These differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T2N0 gastric cancer patients have a better prognosis than T3N0 patients. Depth of infiltration should be considered to stratify lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients for an adjunctive treatment and follow-up scheduling.</p>