Extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer: a single center experience in Istanbul.
OBJECTIVE
Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for gastric carcinoma. Western surgeons have recently performed extended operations while Japanese surgeons reported therapeutic value of extended lymphadenectomy (D2, D3) long before. We aimed to observe the benefits and hazards of this procedure.


METHODS
We analyzed respectively 56 patients operated for gastric cancer between 2001 and 2004.


RESULTS
Thirty-five patients were male and median age was 63 years (range, 34-85 years). Subtotal and total gastrectomies were performed in 29 and 27 patients, respectively. Tumor extension and patient's physical status determined the extent of node dissection. Disease stage was III or IV in 63.2% of patients. Number of maximal nodes resected was 48 and maximal metastatic node count was 41. Splenectomy was performed in 4 (14%). Roux en Y anastomosis was performed either manually or with a circular stapler. Four patients (7.1%) had postoperative complications with no hospital mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric resection with extended lymph node dissection is a safe procedure with acceptable morbidity when performed by an experienced surgeon.
Topaloglu
Umit
U
5th General Surgery Department of Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. umit@ttnet.net.tr
Dulundu
Ender
E
Ozkan
Erkan
E
Kayahan
Munire
M
Ozel
Yahya
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey