[Impact of new lymph node staging on lymphadenectomy and on the prognosis of patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer].
The TNM system has become the principal method for assessing the extent of disease, determining prognosis in gastric cancer patients, and influencing therapeutic strategies. The extent of lymph node metastases is the most important prognostic factor. The aim of the study was to compare the 4th and 6th TNM edition N-classifications and to retrospectively evaluate the prognostic value of the 2002 TNM edition. We evaluated 344 patients who underwent curative total or subtotal gastrectomy. Our data confirm the simplicity and easy application of the new staging and the better prognostic stratification of the N-stage. In multivariate analysis the difference between the old and new TNM staging is minimal. We therefore suggest comparing lymph node location and number in larger series. For the purposes of correct N-staging, 10 lymph nodes in early gastric cancer and at least 16 in the other pT stages seem sufficient to achieve effective pNO staging.
Ramacciato
Giovanni
G
UOC Chirurgia Generale D Dipartimento di Chirurgia P.Valdoni Seconda Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma.
Aurello
Paolo
P
D'Angelo
Francesco
F
Pezzoli
Francesca
F
Bellagamba
Riccardo
R
Nigri
Giuseppe
G
Cicchini
Claudia
C
Ravaioli
Matteo
M
Ercolani
Giorgio
G
Vetrone
Gaetano
G
Del Gaudio
Massmo
M
De Angelis
Renato
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*