Objective: To investigate the status of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and to discuss reasonable lymphadenectomy in early gastric cancer (EGC).
Methods: Between January 1991 and December 2010, 242 EGC patients underwent surgery in the Tianjin Cancer Hospital. Their clinical characteristics, pathologic features, and lymph node metastasis were analyzed retrospectively.
Results: LNM was observed in 22 of 242 patients (9.1%), and 10 (5.5%) in 182 mucosal lesions and 12 (20.0%) in 60 submueosal lesions. There were 14 patients had LNM in the first tier alone, 4 patients had skipped metastasis, and 4 patients had LNM in the first, second, and third ties. The LNM was identified in 18 patients at the first tier with groups 7 and 3 being the most common (8 patients in each group), 7 patients at the second tier (4 patients in group 8a and 3 in group 9), and 2 patients at the third tier (one 16b, and one 4sa). Multivariable analysis showed that the depth of invasion (P=0.003, OR=4.386, 95%CI:1.656-11.617), and lymphatic vessel involvement(P=0.002, OR=13.621, 95%CI:2.711-68.447) were independent risk factors for LNM.
Conclusions: LNM in EGC is mainly correlated with depth of invasion, and lymphatic vessel involvement. Precise evaluation of LNM pre- and intra-operatively is very important for the reasonable surgery.