title: Metastatic lymph node ratio as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an association between the number of resected lymph node and the number of metastatic lymph nodes in gastric cancer, suggesting that pN category could be influenced by the extension of the lymphadenectomy. This study evaluates this association and proposes a comprehensive use of the ratio as prognostic factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of 183 consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. The association between the number of resected lymph nodes and the number of metastatic lymph nodes was analysed and evaluated with other prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of lymph node metastases increased with the number of resected lymph nodes. The lymph node ratio was a better prognostic factor than the number of metastatic lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The metastatic lymph node ratio seems to be a good prognostic factor, but needs further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital de Mutua de Terrassa, University of Barcelona, 08221 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. 25533jrs@comb.es
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Santiago
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veloso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marco
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016019:Survival Analysis