Current Status of Laparoscopic Surgery for Early Gastric Cancer in Korea

ABSTRACT

Owing to the introduction of national screening program, the detection rate of early gastric cancer (EGC) has been rapidly increased in Korea. Laparoscopic gastrectomy has been widely accepted as one of the standard treatments of EGC regardless of the risk of lymph node metastasis. Benefits of laparoscopic surgery included less pain, earlier recovery, lower complication rate than open surgery. Studies from Korean Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group (KLASS) reported short-term outcome including feasibility, safety, and effectiveness as well as satisfactory long-term oncologic outcome. Ongoing prospective randomized controlled trials for early and advanced gastric cancer patients designed by KLASS will provide the evidence of the role of laparoscopic surgery.