BACKGROUND: Although lymph node metastases in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) is an important prognostic factor, the prognostic relevance of lymph node micrometastases is still uncertain. METHODS: The authors studied 1488 lymph nodes, which were histologically confirmed as pN0, dissected from 139 patients who were treated for EGC between 1976-1994. Micrometastases were defined as a single or small cluster of neoplastic cells identifiable only by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Lymph node micrometastases was observed in 24 of the 139 patients (17%). No significant correlation was observed between micrometastases and other clinicopathological characteristics. Analysis of overall survival showed no significant difference between the micrometastases positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that the presence of lymph node micrometastases in EGC does not have an influence on patient prognosis.
BACKGROUND: Although lymph node metastases in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) is an important prognostic factor, the prognostic relevance of lymph node micrometastases is still uncertain. METHODS: The authors studied 1488 lymph nodes, which were histologically confirmed as pN0, dissected from 139 patients who were treated for EGC between 1976-1994. Micrometastases were defined as a single or small cluster of neoplastic cells identifiable only by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Lymph node micrometastases was observed in 24 of the 139 patients (17%). No significant correlation was observed between micrometastases and other clinicopathological characteristics. Analysis of overall survival showed no significant difference between the micrometastases positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our study show that the presence of lymph node micrometastases in EGC does not have an influence on patient prognosis.
Authors: Hendrik T J Mantel; Jim K Wiggers; Joanne Verheij; Jan J Doff; Egbert Sieders; Thomas M van Gulik; Annette S H Gouw; Robert J Porte Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2015-07-16 Impact factor: 5.344