Prognostic significance of regional lymph node reaction after curative resection of advanced gastric cancer.

The prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer who undergo curative resection is still unsatisfactory. The relationship between prognosis and various factors such as stage, lymph node metastasis, serosal invasion and regional lymph node reaction (follicular hyperplasia and sinus histiocytosis) was evaluated. Of the factors studied, the only one that correlated well with survival was sinus histiocytosis. Lymph node metastasis was related weakly to prognosis. No correlation between prognosis and stage, serosal invasion or follicular hyperplasia was observed. Sinus histiocytosis may represent the morphological tumour-host immune reaction. Lymph node metastases or histological types were not related to regional lymph node reaction. These results suggest that sinus histiocytosis could be a useful prognostic factor for gastric cancer. Intensive postoperative follow-up for recurrence may be necessary even for patients with low-grade sinus histiocytosis in whom curative surgery is attempted.