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Lymph Node Micrometastases in Patients With Early Gastric Cancer: Experience With 139 Patients

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1′ Department of General Surgery, Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy

    Paolo Morgagni MD, Francesca Bazzocchi MD, Gian Angelo Marra MD & Antonio Vio MD

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy

    Secondo Folli MD

  3. Department of Anatomy and Pathology Service, L. Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy

    Luca Saragoni MD & Michele Gaudio MD

  4. Romagnolo Oncology Institute, Forlì, Italy

    Emanuela Scarpi MD

  5. U.O. di Chirurgia Generale 19, Ospedale “G.B. Morgagni,” P.le Solieri, 1-47100, Forlì, Italy

    Paolo Morgagni MD

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  1. Paolo Morgagni MD
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  3. Secondo Folli MD
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  7. Gian Angelo Marra MD
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Morgagni, P., Saragoni, L., Folli, S. et al. Lymph Node Micrometastases in Patients With Early Gastric Cancer: Experience With 139 Patients. Ann Surg Oncol 8, 170–174 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-001-0170-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-001-0170-x

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