Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological factors affecting lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer(EGC).
Methods: Clinicopathological data of 369 patients with EGC from Jan. 1999 to Jun. 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. Multivariate analysis was performed to find the risk factors affecting lymph node metastasis.
Results: The age, gender, tumor size, invasion depth, histological classification and vascular cancer thrombosis were associated with lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size and depth of invasion were main independent risk factors.
Conclusions: The main independent risk factors affecting lymph node metastasis in EGC are tumor size and invasion depth. The gender, vascular cancer thrombosis, tumor size, invasion depth and histological classification should be considered to establish the surgical program.