Prognostic Significance of Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and Metastasis to Lymph Node along the Common Hepatic Artery in Gastric Cancer with Second Regional Lymph nodes Metastasis

Shin-ichi Shibasaki, Harumi Kida, Kiyoto Shinkai, Hiroshi Hisano, Hiroshi Yano and Masahito Nomura

Department of Surgery, National Ureshino Hospital

This study evaluated the significance of the number of positive second regional lymph nodes and No. 8a metastasis for prognostic factors in 41 n₂ gastric cancer patients who underwent curative resection. They were classified into two groups according to the number of metastatic nodes; 1-2, 3 or more. In all n₂ cases, there were no significant differences in survival rates according to the number of positive lymph nodes and No. 8a metastasis. The five-year survival rate in t₁+t₂ cases was significantly higher than that in t₃+t₄ cases, at 54.3% and 12.2%, respectively. In t₁+t₂ cases, there were significant differences in survival depending on the number of positive lymph nodes and the presence of No. 8a metastasis. Patients with 1-2 positive nodes had a significantly higher survival rate than those with 3 or more. The five-year survival rates were 67.3% (1-2) and 20.0% (3 or more), respectively. In t₃+t₄ cases, there were no significant differences in survival rates according to the number of positive lymph nodes and No. 8a metastasis. Depth of invasion is therefore the most important factor in all n₂ cases. In negative serosal invasion cases only, however, the number of positive nodes and No. 8a metastasis may provide a prognostic indicator.

Key words
n₂ gastric cancer, number of positive second regional lymph nodes, metastasis to lymph node along the common hepatic artery, prognostic factor

Reprint requests
Shin-ichi Shibasaki Department of Surgery, National Ureshino Hospital Ureshino-chou, Fujitsu-gun, Saga, 843-0393 JAPAN

Accepted
February 24, 1999

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