Significance of a positive oesophageal margin in stomach cancer.
BACKGROUND
A positive oesophageal margin is frequently encountered in total and proximal gastrectomies. It is controversial as to whether a positive oesophageal margin in gastrectomy predisposes to anastomotic dehiscence and loco-regional recurrence. Its independent impact on survival has not been fully addressed.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 137 total and proximal gastrectomies for adenocarcinoma was undertaken. Independent prognostic factors were identified in a bivariate and Cox proportional hazards regression model.


RESULTS
The prevalence of positive oesophageal margin was 18.2%. A positive oesophageal margin was not associated with increased anastomotic leak (8.0 vs 10.7%; P = 0.51), operative morbidity (32.0 vs 27.7%; P = 0.85) or 30-day mortality (8.0 vs 5.4%; P = 0.48) rates when compared with a negative margin. In addition, it did not predispose to anastomotic (13.0 vs 10.4%; P = 0.47) or regional (22.7 vs 24.5%; P = 0.51) recurrences. In the multivariate analysis the TNM stage and status of the oesophageal margin were the only independent prognostic factors for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
A positive oesophageal margin is an independent poor prognostic factor for long-term survival in stomach cancer. All efforts should therefore be made to clear the oesophageal margin in total and proximal gastrectomies.
Chan
W H
WH
Department of Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Wong
W K
WK
Khin
L W
LW
Chan
H S
HS
Soo
K C
KC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis