Frequency and Predictive Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Mucosal Cancer

PURPOSE: The incidence of lymph node metastasis has been reported to range from 2.6 to 4.8% in early stage gastric cancer with mucosal invasion (T1a cancer). Lymph node metastasis in early stage gastric cancer is known as an important predictive factor. We analyzed the prediction factors of lymph node metastasis in T1a cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 9,912 patients underwent radical gastrectomy due to gastric cancer from October 1994 to July 2006 in the Department Of Surgery at Samsung Medical Center. We did a retrospective analysis of 2,524 patients of these patients, ones for whom the cancer was confined within the mucosa. RESULTS: Among the 2,524 patients, 57 (2.2%) were diagnosed with lymph node metastasis, and of these, cancer staging was as follows: 41 were N1, 8 were N2, and 8 were N3a. Univariate analysis of clinicopathological factors showed that the following factors were significant predictors of metastasis: tumor size larger than 4 cm, the presence of middle and lower stomach cancer, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma, diffuse type cancer (by the Lauren classification), and lymphatic invasion. Multivariate analysis showed that lymphatic invasion and tumor larger than 4 cm were significant factors with P<0.001 and P=0.024, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of lymph node metastasis is extremely low in early gastric cancer with mucosal invasion. However, when lymphatic invasion is present or the tumor is larger than 4 cm, there is a greater likelihood of lymph node metastasis. In such cases, surgical treatments should be done to prevent disease recurrence.

Frequency and Predictive Factors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Mucosal Cancer

PURPOSE: The incidence of lymph node metastasis has been reported to range from 2.6 to 4.8% in early stage gastric cancer with mucosal invasion (T1a cancer). Lymph node metastasis in early stage gastric cancer is known as an important predictive factor. We analyzed the prediction factors of lymph node metastasis in T1a cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 9,912 patients underwent radical gastrectomy due to gastric cancer from October 1994 to July 2006 in the Department Of Surgery at Samsung Medical Center. We did a retrospective analysis of 2,524 patients of these patients, ones for whom the cancer was confined within the mucosa. RESULTS: Among the 2,524 patients, 57 (2.2%) were diagnosed with lymph node metastasis, and of these, cancer staging was as follows: 41 were N1, 8 were N2, and 8 were N3a. Univariate analysis of clinicopathological factors showed that the following factors were significant predictors of metastasis: tumor size larger than 4 cm, the presence of middle and lower stomach cancer, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma, diffuse type cancer (by the Lauren classification), and lymphatic invasion. Multivariate analysis showed that lymphatic invasion and tumor larger than 4 cm were significant factors with P<0.001 and P=0.024, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of lymph node metastasis is extremely low in early gastric cancer with mucosal invasion. However, when lymphatic invasion is present or the tumor is larger than 4 cm, there is a greater likelihood of lymph node metastasis. In such cases, surgical treatments should be done to prevent disease recurrence.

Mesenteric Fibromatosis Mimicking Recurrence after Distal Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Mesenteric fibromatosis is a monoclonal, fibroblastic proliferation arising from musculoaponeurotic structure, and it is distinctive lesions defined as a group of non-metastasizing fibroblastic tumors which has local invasion and has a high recurrence rate after the surgical excision. The main treatment modality is the surgical excision. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy are also known as useful treatments. We report our experience of a recent case of Mesenteric fibromatosis. A 62-year old female patient had undergone gastrectomy due to gastric cancer. 18 months after gastrectomy, we detected an abdominal mass. The preoperative radiologic findings were suggestive of recurrence. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and post-operative pathologic diagnosis was confirmed as fibromatosis. We report a patient with mesenteric fibromatosis that mimic recurrence after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients with a History of Upper Abdominal Surgery / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently the treatment of choice for gallbladder disease. Previous abdominal surgery was considered as a relative contraindication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to the presence of intraabdominal adhesion and the difficulty in visualization. Several recent studies have suggested that previous abdominal surgery is no longer a contraindication for laparoscopic surgery by virtue of the accumulation of surgeons' experience and the evolution of laparoscopic instruments. In this study, we evaluated the impact of previous upper abdominal surgery on laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: The data of 706 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from September 2004 to December 2007 was retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-three patients had undergone pervious upper abdominal surgery and 673 patients had not. We compared the operative time, the type of trocar that was used, the postoperative complications, the frequency of open conversion and the length of the postoperative hospital stay between the two groups RESULTS: The operative time was longer (141.8+/-88.7 min vs. 74.1+/-37.4 min, p<0.001) and larger trocars were used more often (p<0.001) in the previous upper abdominal surgery group. There was no significant difference in the open conversion rate, the major postoperative complication rate and the length of the postoperative hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy might be an optimal treatment for patients with a history of previous upper abdominal surgery. Previous upper abdominal surgery is not a contraindication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy when it is performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons.